Thai contemporary art has undergone radical changes in the last few decades with the emergence of new galleries and museums such as MAIIAM in Chiang Mai, rise of street art and launch of the Bangkok Art Biennale as well as creative regional initiatives such as Khonkaen Manifesto. But the pace has been slow and public funding lower than in some other Southeast Asian countries.

In international cultural circles, the perception is that Thai contemporary art is struggling for funding and a voice amid conservative traditions. Even as a new generation of Thai artists, art spaces and events draw more international attention, the question is whether the country’s art scene is still far from the global stage — and if so, why?

This panel discussion draws together some prominent curators, critics and artists as well as regional experts. Among other issues is the question of who funds — and should fund — Thai contemporary art, and how the nascent gallery scene compares with other Asian countries.

Panelists will also discuss the growing profile of women in the Thai art world and how street artists and other creative talents are making a mark on international art festivals and galleries abroad.

Speakers include:

• Apinan Poshyananada, chief executive and artistic director of Bangkok Art Biennale, and former permanent secretary of the Thai Ministry of Culture
  
• Thanom Chapakdee, independent art critic [CUT CURATOR] and artistic director of Khonkaen Manifesto, a Thai regional contemporary art festival, and Wai Art, an alternative art space
  
• Patcharapol Tangruen, aka Alex Face, one of Thailand’s best-known street artists and creator of Mardi, the “kid in a bunny outfit.”
  
• Susannah Tantemsapya, Founder and executive director of Creative Migration and Bangkok 1899, a new cultural & civic hub
  
• Valentine Willie, Southeast Asian art expert, gallerist and creative director of Iiham, a public art space in Kuala Lumpur
  
• Moderator: Gwen Robinson, editor-at-large, Nikkei Asian Review and FCCT president Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand

Bangkok 1899 and eight of our partners hosted many free activities as we officially open FREC Bangkok on Saturday, October 5, 2019.

Bangkok 1899 is proud to be a steward for the Ford Resource & Engagement Center (FREC) in Bangkok, the city’s newest hub for NGOs, social enterprises, and foundations!

On Saturday, October 5, 2019,  Bangkok 1899 hosted a “Drive-in movie theater” for short films from Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design, SATI, The 60 Second Film Festival and many more.

Our partners also hosted free activities for families, which were open to the public from 11am-8pm on October 5:

• “Sustainable cooking” classes
• Kids classes on art, mapmaking, and the environment
• Indigo dyeing session
• Birdwatching 101 workshops
• Hands-on plastics upcycling project
• DIY racecar fabrication
• Neighborhood walking tour
• And many more…

More info here:
facebook.com/events/345513869490169

Creative Migration is pleased to announce The Pink Period by New Zealand Social Practice artist, Tiffany Singh. This exhibition kicks off the Grand Opening of Bangkok 1899, a new cultural and civic hub in Bangkok’s historic center, on September 7-8, 2019.

The Pink Period
Tiffany Singh

September 7 – November 10, 2019
Public opening: Saturday, September 7, 19:00 – 22:00
Exhibition hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11:00 – 21:00

During her three-month residency, Singh has used her multidisciplinary approach to transform Bangkok 1899 into an immersive Social Practice Hub. Looking after her two young children while simultaneously building this exhibition, she exemplifies a new contemporary art paradigm to enable women artists, who are also mothers, to live and work in a supportive residency environment.

This new suite of work explores the narrative of Women’s Liberation through objects of the domestic. From multiple collaborations with other women artists, Singh maps out factors that affect how women participate in various artistic disciplines. These relationships provide a narrative around the history, identity and technical skills related to the production of so-called “women’s” work. Through performative aspects and subtle gestures, The Pink Period provides an opportunity to learn about, and to address issues that affect women artists.

Singh developed this concept through the collaborative project Women’s Art Project Asia during her residency at Taipei Artist Village (Taiwan). For The Pink Period, she invited Taiwanese artist Jui-Pin Chang to build upon their existing research to delve further into societal expectations, family obligations and being classified as a minority voice within the art world.



Bangkok 1899 - Grand Opening

Bangkok 1899 officially opens during the weekend of September 7-8, 2019. This new cultural and civic hub represents the intersection of art, design, urbanism and social innovation. Established by Creative Migration, an international arts organization based in Los Angeles and Bangkok, Bangkok 1899 fulfills its mission to advance cultural diplomacy through art, public engagement and sustainability.

Our Grand Opening is supported by Creative Migration (East) Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Motor Company Fund (Ford Fund), the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce), Devahastin na Ayudhya Family, New Zealand Embassy Bangkok, Nga Waka Maori Ki Tai Whenua Group, Whiteline, Canon Thailand, Na Cafe, Singha Corporation, Bangkok Beer & Beverages, Attems and Riedel.  

In The World Refugee Day Event on June 23, 2019, Make A House A Home Projects by Tiffany Singh connected people to the well-being of refugees in Bangkok through colorful artworks made by young refugee kids.

On June 23rd at Bangkok 1899 was The World Refugee Day Event. The event was a collaboration between Bangkok 1899, with Na Projects Group, Amnesty Thailand, Asylum Access Global & Host International to work with the children of refugee families, making works that will be available for exchange for World Refugee Day. In the event there were workshops organized by refugee families from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan & Vietnam. Participants were given opportunities to learn and connect with these people through food, art, and culture.

Our artist-in-residence, Tiffany Singh, participated in the event through the exhibition of her personal Make A House A Home Projects; a social practice art project to help raise awareness and gather items for people in need through art. This project allows interested individuals to bring items that can be useful to the refugee families and exchange them with an artwork made by young refugee children.

Originating in Dunedin, New Zealand the Make A House A Home Project, is connected with the Red Cross aim to ‘turn houses into homes for families’ through community donations and support. In bringing the project to Thailand Tiffany Singh has teemed up with Na Café & Bangkok 1899 to create artwork with children from refugee families and exhibit them in exchange for useful goods. At the end of this exhibition, all items will be donated and divided among the families, acting as a small token of welcome and support.

Over 31 color hand prints were created by the refugee children in their earlier workshop with Tiffany Singh. The artist used colored leaves and dye colors from flowers to teach the children how to make art by using natural ingredients. The children were allowed to freely express their innate creativity. The exchange will be available until all the artworks are taken.

On May 30 2019, Bangkok 1899 and its NGO partners; such as Scholar of Sustenance (SOS), Ford Motor Company Fund and Na Café, ran a charity lunch event called "Marriott's Chef Surplus Cooking Challenge" with Marriott Hotel.  

In the morning, chefs from Thai Marriott hotels worked together with staff from NGO organizations; including Bangkok 1899, Na Café, Ford Motor Company Fund and Scholar of Sustenance, to cook and arrange high quality dishes to be served as lunch for students at Satri Julanak School. All the students got to engage in activities and conversations with the chefs and staff while enjoying a great number of delicious dishes made from the best ingredients and cooked to perfection. Big thanks to Marriott Hotel for working with us in such an amazing social event.