In November last year, Time Out Bangkok and the Tourism Authority of Thailand kicked off the first Awakening Bangkok lighting festival in Charoenkrung. In the course of 10 days, a reported 75,000 individuals flocked to the historic neighborhood to admire and post photos and videos of more than 30 light installations. Over 100,000 social media hits proved this pilot run a triumphant success.
Time Out Bangkok and Tourism Authority of Thailand, with support from Mitsubishi Motors, are bringing back the festival this year, from 15 to 24 November, but this time, Awakening Bangkok promises to be larger and more spectacular.
The streets and buildings of the Bangrak-Chaoroenkrung area will feature more than 40 mind-blowing, cutting-edge lighting installations by local artists, both professional and amateur. The hope is to encourage city-dwellers and visitors to discover the rich heritage of one of Bangkok’s oldest commercial and residential neighborhoods and see it from a “brighter” perspective.
This year sees new locations taking part in the festival, including Realrare, the traditional Chinese-style house erected some two centuries ago in Talad Noi; Baan Rim Naam, a riverside warehouse also in Talad Noi; Rong Kuek Shrine, a sacred Hakka shrine sitting on the banks of the Chao Phraya River; ATT 19, a multi-purpose art space in Soi Charoenkrung 30; Slure, a multi-functional shophouse fronting the Bangkok Dock Company; and Lhong 1919, a former trade port turned creative space on the Thonburi side of the river.
Awakening Bangkok 2019 is a festival of lights, yes, but there’s more to do than just snap photos with the art pieces. For one night only on Nov 19, the basement of the Grand Postal Building, which will house the awe-inspiring interactive light installation of visual art collective Saturate Studio, will be turned into a dance floor for silent disco-goers. Get headphones from the reception, switch to your preferred channel, and go have fun, bathed in the lights Saturate Studio will put on exclusively for the event! See more info here.
We've also added more fun to Awakening Bangkok’s second year in the form of free concerts by known local bands: Whal and Dolph, Better Weather, Safe Planet, and Somkiat.
Check back on the website or Facebook Page for the latest updates, and see you all from Nov 15 to 24!
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Organizer: Time Out Bangkok
Sponsors: Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mitsubishi Motors
Partners: Lhong 191, ICONSIAM, Slure, O.P. Garden