Since its first edition in 2018, the Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) has been a showcase of art and creativity unlike any other, serving as a platform that shines a spotlight on the most talented artists from across Southeast Asia and the world.
The BAB is a celebration of the arts that spans multiple venues across Bangkok in a period of four months that transforms and enriches the bustling capital into an artistic and cultural hub where visitors can immerse themselves in the works of local and international artists across different mediums, disciplines, and creative expressions.
This year’s festival will be the fourth edition of BAB, and will feature an expansion with more historical locations, and even more artists for visitors to discover. To prepare yourself for this thrilling event, here’s everything you need to know about Bangkok Art Biennale 2024.
A Theme That Celebrates the Beauty of Life and Confronts the Challenges of Today
The theme for this year’s Bangkok Art Biennale is “Nurture Gaia,” which draws its inspiration from the Greek personification of the Earth and calls back to the maternal goddess that nurtures and gives life. In celebration of this theme, the Bangkok Art Biennale will be delving into different contemporary expressions and disciplines such as anthropology, collectivism, ecology, feminism, and the politics of time and place.
The theme is also a call of attention for our environment. Another inspiration for this year’s BAB is the “Gaia Hypothesis”—a concept that proposes that the Earth and its living beings behave as a large single entity. Today, we face urgent issues such as climate change and war, which have ultimately led to the devastation of our environment. This year’s theme aims to make visitors realize that they still play a vital role in confronting the challenges mankind has caused and in making the world a better place.
A Unique Way To Explore Bangkok
Visitors will get the opportunity to explore Bangkok and its prominent locations, as displays and exhibitions from this year’s BAB will be hosted in 11 venues across the capital of Thailand.
The locations will be separated into two routes: the City Route which features locations such as the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, the largest public art center in Bangkok, the centralwOrld shopping plaza, The Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, and the One Bangkok.
The River Route will include ancient heritage sites such as Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn, Wat Pho or Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Wat Prayoon or The Temple of the Iron Fence, Wat Bowon which features architectural and artistic treasures that blend Thai, Chinese, Khmer, and European influences, Museum Siam, The National Gallery of Thailand, and National Museum Bangkok.
A Melting Pot of Artistry From All Over the World
This year’s BAB will feature the most artists that have been included in the festival, with the works of 76 leading artists from 39 countries being showcased in this year’s event. The growing expansion of artists serves to highlight Southeast Asia’s vibrant art scene, while also introducing diverse international perspectives to the region.
The Biennale will feature an array of prominent and emerging Southeast Asian artists which include Lena Bui from Vietnam, Moe Syatt from Myanmar, Maria Madeira from Timor-Leste, Aria Bajuayi and Bagus Pandega from Indonesia, Priyageetha Dia, Amanda Heng, and Zul Mahmod from Singapore, Bounpaul Phothyzan from Laos, and Agnes Arellano from the Philippines. The festival will also include displays from 22 Thai artists which include Princess Marsi Paribatra, WISHULADA, Busui Ajaw and Pokchat Worasub.
Like with every edition of BAB, the event will be divided into a variety of activities ranging from educational conferences, talks, hands-on workshops, guided visits, publications, and online programs to ensure a memorable experience. Additionally, students and art enthusiasts can look forward to the return of the Dek BAB program, which gives opportunities for students and people interested in art to work at the BAB with participating artists as artist crews, liaisons, docents and art guides.
Bangkok Art Biennale 2024 will take place from October 24, 2024, to February 25, 2025, so don’t miss out on the chance to indulge yourself in this celebration of art while exploring the beauty and majesty of Bangkok’s historic and modern landscapes.
Are you looking to take part in this art adventure? Share your thoughts in the comments below!