center /bangkok

Located in the heart of Bangkok, the new Jim Thompson Art Center opened in 2021 and is situated next to the unique and famous Jim Thompson House Museum. Serving as a haven for Bangkok’s local and international arts and cultural communities, the Center’s reputation as a place to mingle, interact and exchange dialogues is rapidly spreading. The building itself was designed by Bangkok-based architectural firm design ‘qua’ founded by Malina Palasthira and John Erskine.

The new JTAC consists of a 4-storey multi-functional cultural space that includes two exhibition galleries, a functional rooftop space, a café, a museum shop and the William Warren Library, as well as multiple rooms and open air spaces that connect the building together The building includes versatile multi-use and modular spaces ready to be transformed for public programs.

The Jim Thompson Art Center founded in 2003 was intended to be from the beginning a lively place where all disciples of contemporary Thai and international art would gather. With Artistic Director of Jim Thompson Art Center Gridthiya Gaweewong and influential art experts and collectors Eric Booth and Jean-Michel Beurdeley as the hard core catalysts, the center has acclaimed international fame It has it played an important part in promoting Bangkok and Thailand as one of the place in the world for contemporary art.

The open design of the new building can be a metaphor for the open approach to the arts.The architecture is inspired by sustainable tropical design with extensive outdoor spaces creating channels for ventilation with porous breathable walls and large overhangs

The indoor air conditioned spaces function as separate units minimizing the building’s energy use. Local materials were used, such as the red bricks from nearby Angthong province. Whilst natural materials are strategically deployed to encourage the graceful aging of the building, the aging patina of its largeexposed concrete walls further display the building’s unique character

The Jim Thompson Art Center (JTAC) is part of The James H W Thompson Foundation. It is named after the American who assembled a Thai and Southeast Asian art collection in his traditional teak home. Facilities included the William Warren Library, two artists-in-residency rooms, the Thai Textiles Society Office, and a workspace for Conservators without Borders (Conservateurs sans Frontiers)

In 1967, Jim Thompson mysteriously disappeared while staying with friends in the Cameron Highlands, a Malaysian hill resort. Seven years later, he was declared legally dead, and his estate was left to his nephew, Henry B. Thompson III. In keeping his uncle’s intention to have his art collection remain in Thailand, his heir graciously donated the house and his antiques to the James H.W. Thompson Foundation.

Previous pages: the facade of the Jim Thompson Ar t Center in Bangkok designed by Bangkokbased architectural firm design ‘qua’ founded by Malina Palasthira and John Erskine.

This page: view from the William Warren Librar y to the coffee shop on the second floor The architecture of the building is the architecture is characterized by a great openness shielded from sunlight by metal mash cur tains.

All photos: Hans Fonk

In 1975, the Court-appointed administrator for the property of Jim Thompson received permission from government ministries of the Kingdom of Thailand to legally establish The James H.W Thompson Foundation. Accordingly, the property was vested in the Foundation, and the house and art collection are now registered as a national museum.

The Foundation is dedicated to the conservation and dissemination of Thailand’s rich cultural heritage Through its support of research, seminars, conferences, exhibitions and publications, the Foundation has endeavored to create a better understanding and appreciation of such traditional Thai art forms as sculpture, painting, literature, dance, song, puppetry and textiles. It is this cultural patrimony which is at the core of Thai identity.

These pages: Dreamtunnel as part of the Dreamday solo exhibition by Thai artist Mit Jai Inn in Gallery One and Two of the Jim Thompson Art Center in Bangkok. The show was curated by Melanie Pocock and Kittima Chareeprasit under auspices of Gridthiya Gaweewong, Artistic Director of Jim Thompson Art Center, Thailand. In the background Mit’s Midlands Dwelling.

These pages:

Above: over views of Galler y One and Two with works of Thai ar tist Mit Jai Inn. The solo exhibition was embodying Mit’s vision of ar t as a utopian dream within ever yday life. It explored the healing and social process of ar t through vibrant ar tworks that can be touched, walked through, stepped on and taken away.

Right: Bangkok Apar tments by Mit consisted of 74 objects made of Waste materials as water, metal, and even a lamp set The series was divided in two categories: Marking Stone, stone shaped objects, and Marking Light. Mit was inspired by the Bai Senna, stone tables found in ancient Buddhist temples used to section out space for religious rituals.

“Guided by the mission of the James H.W.Thompson Foundation(founded in1976) upon which it is founded, the Jim Thompson Art Center exists to promote the enjoyment of art, advance dialogue and research into its historical collection and archives in relation to today’s perspective. In doing so, JTAC hopes to create a nexus with the pressing and relevant issues of today thereby initiating and furthering conversations and experiences in contemporary art, developing access, visibility and community engagement whilst maintaining the highest standard for creating art and cultural experiences for diverse audiences.”

Eric Bunnag

Booth, Trustee of James H.W.Thompson Foundation

The architecture was inspired by sustainable tropical design with extensive outdoor spaces creating channels for ventilation with porous breathable walls and large overhangs. Local materials were used, such as the red bricks from nearby Angthong province. Natural materials were strategically deployed to encourage the graceful aging of the building