Bangkok Art Map by Talisman Media

Talisman Media Group Co., Ltd.

www.bangkokartmap.com Steven Pettifor

The Bangkok Art Map is a compact and colourful monthly resource guide to all that’s happening in Bangkok’s ever-growing art arena. BAM! is compiled by Steven Pettifor, one of Thailand’s leading art writers, and is produced by the publishers of Bangkok 101 magazine, the city’s premier visitor publication.

The ultimate city guide... available at all good bookshops www.bangkok101.com

by Tawatchai Somkong

Core of Crisis, Endless emanicipation (2008)

Detailing the capital’s best viewing spaces

Gallery Directory

The most interesting shows across town

Current Exhibitions

Core of Crisis

Exhibition Spotlight

What is BAM!?

Welcome to the February issue of the Bangkok Art Map (BAM!). As the initial optimism towards a new decade and an improvement upon domestic art sales wanes, the realisation is that the capital’s art venues are still struggling to attract patrons during this period of economic uncertainty. Perhaps a metaphoric parallel to the commercial stagnation facing the local art scene, is our Exhibition Spotlight this month, Core of Crisis on view at Galerie N. In the show, Tawathcai Somkong’s colourful semi abstract paintings are embedded with environmentally calamitous warnings (See Cover and Exhibition Spotlight). Other significant exhibitions being staged this month include a major exhibition by senior National Artist Chalood Nimsamer on show at Silpakorn University and an exhibition of beautiful Murano glass sculptures by Pinaree Sanpitak at Thavibu (See Exhibition Highlights) There are a couple of art exhibitions being staged at off-map venues this month, starting with a display of photography in Noina 4 Tastes by Jiratha Narapittayanart at Suan Pakkad Palace on Si Ayutthaya Rd (Until Feb 28). Three Bangkok based women artists, Ingrid Van der Heyden, Karen Sengel and Simona Ambrosini, come together for the exhibition Woven Elements at the International School Bangkok Chevron Gallery in Pakkret, Nonthaburi (Until Feb 20). On the gallery front Bangkok looses one space in the closing of non-commercial Conference of Birds on Soi Pan (although the organisers will continue with site-specific activities) and regains a familiar face in the re-opening of Nospace Gallery in its new location on RCA. The nightlife strip should suit the youth favoured gallery with its schedule of exhibitions and regular music gigs and associated events (See Galleries). The female philanthropic group The Soroptimist International Club of Dusit is organising Art From Inside, an open visit to the studios of four of Thailand’s most celebrated artists this Feb 27. The fundraising event is priced at B2,200, and stops at the studios of Chatchai Puipia, Pinaree Sanpitak, Jakkai Siributr, and the late Misiem Yipintsoi. For more information contact 02-711-7156. And finally, Attic Studios is offering a weeklong Foundation Course from Feb 1-5 that centres upon a different painterly focus each day, including nudes and landscapes. The five-day course costs B20,000 (See Art Classes). Free and available citywide, pick up your copy of BAM! and participate in the promotion of art in Thailand.

Bangkok Art Map

Editor’sletter

Free

February 2010

Exhibition highlights

Exhibition

spotlight

Galerie N Core of Crisis

Initially the vibrant colours and surreal semi-abstract imagery of Tawatchai Somkong’s paintings seduce viewers into reveling in his art from a purely painterly perspective. But upon closer inspection, the artist’s potent palette, deft brushwork and energetic patterns, exude a more agitated and disconcerting atmosphere that has audiences questioning the deeper thematic resonance to his latest compositions. In Core of Crisis, the Chiang Mai based editor of the local visual arts publication Fine Art, has departed from the more faith based paintings that preoccupied his early career. The latest works have gained a certain momentum and tension towards the impending catastrophe looming in the atmosphere above planet Earth. Tawatchai’s focus seems to be towards global warming and the general lack of urgency, both on a state and individual level, to affect change and halt the alarming rise in temperatures. Hot and agitated, organic ducts spew like coal burning chimneys or eruptive volcanoes from the artist’s surfaces. Yet his sexually suggestive anthropomorphic imagery imply reproductive organs uncontrollably exploding forth with the secretions of conception. His toxic plumes entwine like strands of DNA, relentless and insatiably overpopulating his picture planes. Largely ignored, or rarely discussed, the underlying root cause of Earth’s instability is the continual and unsustainable growth of the planet’s human population. At some point in the near future drastic measures will have to be taken to control and limit human impact upon the planet. But for now such contentious solutions are contradictory to the precepts of a democratic capitalist society, where the children of today are the consumers of tomorrow. Until Feb 21

Ardel’s Third Place Seiji Kunishima: Sculpture Wrapped Memory Despite spatial limitations, Ardel’s Third Place staged some interesting sculptural exhibitions in 2009 and they begin this year with an engaging exhibition of taut threedimensional works by senior Japanese artist Seiji Kunishima. Having exhibited widely internationally since the early 1960s, Kunishima’s sculptures combine everyday objects such as coat hangers, nails and newspapers, with natural materials like stone and wood. Bound or wrapped together, the resulting works pertain to personal memory. Feb 9 – Mar 14

Silpakorn University Stream of Life National Artist Chalood Nimsamer has been a recognised force to Thai art since the 1950s, when he began his career as a sculptor having studied under the pioneering Italian artist Silpa Bhirasri. Known for his depictions of women, Chalood was the first ever student to receive a degree from Silpakorn University, and decades later he returns to exhibit some 1,000 plus works that highlight his lengthy career. Feb 4 – 26 (Opens Feb 4 at 6:30pm)

Thavibu Solid The debut exhibition in the year-long project, 3D @ Thavibu, promoting three-dimensional art in Suite 307 of Thavibu, Solid features a series of specially produced Murano glass sculptures alongside polished aluminium forms by internationally recognised artist Pinaree Sanpitak. Having previously utilised fragile materials such as wax, flowers, charcoal, and perishable foods into her art, Pinaree recently collaborated with master glass-blowers from Venice in Italy to produce unique breast-cloud sculptures that are both solid yet ephemeral in their transparent lustrous presence. Feb 13 – Mar 31 (Opens Feb 13 at 5pm)

Whitespace In the house by the canal In the wake of Thailand’s somewhat turbulent participation at last year’s 53rd Venice Biennale, the collaborating artists come together once more to exhibit some behind- the- scenes creativity. Under the direction of Michael Shaowanasai, the black and white photographs and video attempt to convey some of the technical challenges, bureaucratic wrangling and personality clashes that took place in the Thai Pavilion against the beautiful Venetian backdrop. Feb 5 – Mar 7 (Opens Feb 5 at 7pm)

Kathmandu Photo Gallery Dreaming Alien Having previously shot for the likes of Men’s Vogue and National Geographic, Paris based photojournalist Alain Soldeville presents a surreal series of vacant urbanscapes of the Thai capital. Shot atmospherically at night and without digital manipulation, the haunting desolate city scenes and interiors aim to show a culture in transition, through the rapid and often awkward drive toward consumerism. Feb 6 – Mar 28 (Opens Feb 6 at 6:30pm)

Serindia Mongolia: Platinum Prints Inspired by the pioneers of ethno-photography such as Edward Curtis, who photographed indigenous American tribe folk, Hamid Sardar-Afkhami has ventured through Mongolia to capture the last nomadic tribes of the region. Following horse-breeders, bear-hunters, wolf-tamers, eagle-masters and reindeer riders, his exquisite platinum prints explore the spiritual reciprocity between animals and man in these fast disappearing civilisations. Until Feb 28

Queen’s Gallery The 2nd Decade of Bualuang Paintings Having established itself as the Annual Bualuang Painting Competition since 1974, the Bangkok Bank Foundation organised event presents highlights of the competition from 19871997. On view are over 200 of artworks by some 50 artists, many who’ve gone on to become highly regarded artists, including among others Chatchai Puipia, Sakarin Krue-on, and Prasong Luemuang. Feb 8 – Mar 30

Bangkok Art & Culture Centre FOR: Wall Painting Showcase Graffiti art rose to prominence in the 1970s as working-class street culture territorially sprayed across the walls of neighbourhoods in American cities. In recent years, street painting has gained a modicum of popularity among Bangkok’s urban middle classes enamoured by the international hip-hop industry. Importing street painting into the sterility of a museum environment, this exhibition invites artists to spray and tag their own sanitised interpretations of wall painting. Until Feb 28