A large coral colored resin horn, good as gaia Curves towards the sky in the gardens of the Wat Prayun temple complex, by Italian artist Lello Esposito. The gaze rests on the most unexpected places in Bangkok: British artist Bruce Asbestos’s wobbly, green eye of newt Museum in Siam, inspired by the idea of frogspawn and transformation, and carved granite by the late French-American artist Louise Bourgeois eyesWat Pho reflects introspection.
Louise Bourgeois’eyes
Photo Credit: Arina Matvey
And 10 minutes away, in Siwamokkhaphiman Hall, part of the Grand Palace complex, a 19th-century clock – a gift to the monks from Thai King Rama V – is displayed along with a video installation about the king’s tour of Europe in 1897. Keeps. The four-minute piece by Thai artists Nakrob Moonmanas and Chitti Kasemkitwatana highlights concepts of time and how it changed from a Buddhist non-linear format to a more Western format. Defined by productivity.
These markedly different installations come together when viewed through the lens of the Bangkok Art Biennale’s 2024 theme, ‘Nurture Gaia’ – embracing themes of hybridity, contemplative ecology, femininity, missing knowledge and the supernatural.
Curated by Apinan Posyananda, the biennial’s artistic director since its inception in 2018, and a team of curators, the fourth edition features 76 artists from 39 countries, and is exhibited across 11 venues across the city. “The theme reflects an urgent call to address the Anthropocene impact while providing hope. Through art, we explore the duality of crisis and care, showcasing works advocating environmental awareness, activism and healing,” says Poshyananda. Anish Kapoor also includes big Indian names s curveRavinder Reddy, George K., and Chitra Ganesh.
Anish Kapoor’s iconic s curve
Photo Credit: Seni Chunhacha
One for families and tourists
Unlike the Venice Biennale, which is visited by its formal pavilions and art culture people, Biennales held in the middle of the city, especially in a tourist center, are quite different. At the Kochi-Muziris Biennale in India, you see families and tourists wandering the streets of Fort Kochi, popping into old warehouses and walking up wooden stairs to historic cafes to interact with art. There is a similar familiar air in Bangkok, where parents with children, tourists and art lovers follow each other’s footsteps as they follow the river and city pathways. Spread across temples, museums, galleries and convention centres, art blends seamlessly with daily life.
Reddy’s Parvati Bangkok Art and Culture Center attracts big crowds, as Anish Kapoor shines s curve Displayed at the new lifestyle hub, One Bangkok. At the National Gallery I met George K. , a retired banker and self-taught artist Arvani The series of sculptures and paintings of transgender women from Tamil Nadu explores inclusivity and gender fluidity. The life-size surrealist fiberglass sculptures are eye-catching with their bright costumes and engraved words in English, Tamil and Hindi. “Thai and Indian aesthetics overlap in many ways, so I can see how people connect with my work,” says George. “The concept is also timely because Thailand will legalize gay marriage in January 2025. I am in the right place at the right time.”
George K. a statue of Arvani series | Photo Credit: Preecha Pattarampornchai
Arvani series | Photo Credit: Preecha Pattarampornchai
Elsewhere in the gallery, Ganesh, a visual artist from New York, uses images from billboards, product labels, advertisements and comics density of time ‘Speaking to contemporary realities of conflict, power and desire’.
picture of ganesh density of time
Photo Credit: Preecha Pattarampornchai
The most unique performances include that of Jessica Segal (un)normal intimacyA two-channel video installation in a temple hall of Wat Prayun, where the artist is shown interacting with tigers and crocodiles in a swimming pool – addressing the loss of wild mangoes and contrasting the ideas of control and entertainment that these produce The creatures usually present a face.
Jessica Segal’s (un)normal intimacy
Photo Credit: Chris Van Klinken
Lao artist Bounpaul Fothijan’s sculptures made from bomb shells are a reminder of entire generations lost. And let’s not forget Amanda Coogan’s performance Ode to Joy From Beethoven’s ‘Ninth Symphony’ with Thai adults and youth with hearing loss. The silent choir, which bypasses language and racial barriers, is a powerful collaboration.
Baumpol Fothijan’s sculptures are made from bomb casings. Photo Credit: Arina Matvey
“In this edition the artists offer a gentle engagement with the Earth – nature itself and the populations that live on it. His works awaken our curiosity about neglected rhythms, sounds, ideas and relationships to encourage a humble sense of who we are and how we relatively exist. “But BAB 2024 is not without its intense moments, which sometimes serve as a sobering warning of the growing intensity of the world’s problems.”brian curtinIrish art critic and co-curator of BAB
lessons to learn
As more tourists arrive, one has to ask what is going right in Bangkok. “The Bangkok Art Biennale has a wide range of artists on display, often two-three from one country. But what I find most interesting is that they had a pavilion at the Venice Biennale earlier this year. They showcased their work and gained momentum,” says George. “You attract a much wider audience that way. “I still don’t understand why we are not doing this in India.”
Priya Geeta Diya’s Specter System
photo Credit:
Back home, budget has always been a sore point. The Kochi Biennale recently cited ‘organizational challenges’ when it announced the postponement of the event by a year to December 2025. Bangkok doesn’t seem to have the same challenges. The artist adds, “As far as I could see, the government funds it, as do many business houses.”
The Bangkok Art Biennale will run until February 25, 2025.
The author is a Chennai-based art lover.
published – November 29, 2024 11:11 am IST
