The much-awaited citywide Bangkok Art Biennale will finally launch this October. We take a look at some of the highlights and must-see exhibitions by six participating local and international artists you can't miss here.
Yayoi Kusama
CentralWorld and Siam Paragon
The needs-no-introduction Queen of Dots is bringing her eye-popping pieces to Bangkok for the first time in years (her last exhibition in the city was in 2005 at 100 Tonson Gallery). The 89-year-old Japanese contemporary artist will be exhibiting a set of 14 polkadotted pumpkins, which previously hung from the ceiling of Ginza Six mall in Tokyo, at CentralWorld. Her smaller pieces will also be shown for up-close viewing at Siam Paragon.
Marina Abramovic
BACC and BAB Box at One Bangkok
Award-winning Yugoslavian performance artist Marina Abramovic, whose physical communication shows have impressed millions of audiences around the world, will create a set of long-durational performances called The Method on 19 October and 11 November. The artist will also give a lecture on 23 October at Siam Pavalai, Siam Paragon.
Kawita Vatanajyankur
CentralWorld, EmQuartier, The Peninsula Hotel, The East Asiatic Building, Theatre of Indulgence
Video artist Kawita Vatanayangkur examines the topic of women’s rights by using her body to represent household appliances. Her work is so powerful that she became one of the very few Thai artists to have been invited to show at last year’s Venice Biennale as well as at Saatchi Gallery London.
Wisut Ponnimit
EmQuartier
The celebrated artist and cartoonist is best known as the creator of Mamuang, the happy little animated character that loves to explore the world. Widely recognized, Mamuang started off as a manga character but has now expanded into other media platforms, including video art which will be showing at various venues during the Bangkok Art Biennale 2018
Choi Jeong Hwa
The Peninsula Hotel, Nai Lert Park Heritage Home, BACC, Siam Center, Siam Discovery
Choi Jeong Hwa is a South Korean artist of numerous disciplines. His colorful, large-scale creations, which move between materials and styles, never fail to amaze audiences around the world. There was that time he wrapped an Olympic stadium in plastic bottles, and another when he caused a giant bouquet to “bloom” in the middle of a city. In Bangkok, Jeong Hwa will be showing a few of his iconic masterpieces: the massive “Breathing Flower” and metallic pink “Love Me” pig, both of which have traveled the world and will be showing in Thailand for the first time.
Huang Yong Ping
Bank of Thailand Learning Center & Wat Pho
It’s fair to say Yong Ping is one of the most influential artists of his kind. The France-based Chinese installation artist was at the forefront of the global avant-garde movement. He has been praised for creating provocative and controversial works that provoke never-ending dialogues among its viewers. For BAB, Yong Ping will show “Dragon Boat,” which reflects the journey of Chinese migrants, at Bank of Thailand Learning Center, and a reappropriation of his “Zuo You He Che” installation at Wat Pho.