Showing 1 - 10 of 36
Protesting ethically for the planet
News, Published on 05/09/2024
» Climate protesters have disrupted the tennis at Wimbledon, thrown tomato soup at the glass protecting famous paintings, sprayed orange powder on Stonehenge, and blocked traffic. In response, European governments have been cracking down on environmental protesters with detentions and fines, and, in one case, with a five-year prison sentence for advocating civil disobedience in a Zoom call.
Remembering a Southeast Asianist
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 26/07/2024
» It is not often these days to find scholars of Southeast Asia with exceptional breadth and depth, prescience, and commitment who stick to their creed until the end. In the pantheon of such rare scholars, Benedict O'Gorman Anderson, who died in 2015, would have led the way. James C Scott would be right beside him in a distinctly different fashion.
The winner-take-all economy is ruining art, too
News, Published on 06/05/2024
» I was on the whole disappointed by this year's Whitney Biennial -- it was hard for me to tell if one video installation was art or an HR training video -- but as an economist, I have to admit the exhibition was successful in at least one respect: It did what art is supposed to do, which is to hold up a mirror to our society and economy. And this year's biennial shows how America's elite institutions are stifling innovation and creativity.
Important to invest in cultural assets
Oped, Published on 15/02/2024
» Thailand's vast architectural and cultural heritage is more than just a source of enjoyment and public pride. It is probably the nation's most important resource besides its people. And heritage empowers the people. It supports social and economic welfare in lots of ways. It's worth taking care of.
Crumbling pride
Oped, Editorial, Published on 05/08/2023
» A debate surrounding the ongoing renovation of the iconic robot-shaped building on Sathon Road still persists, illuminating the challenges associated with the laws and mechanisms aimed at preserving modern-style architecture in the country.
Save our fading modern architecture
Oped, Published on 30/03/2023
» If you are reading this, you probably hope that we will start taking better care of our historic architecture here in Thailand. But you might not immediately think of our modern buildings constructed during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Keep calm – and keep hands off the art
Life, Arusa Pisuthipan, Published on 23/01/2023
» The urban art landscape in Thailand was marred earlier this month when a popular contemporary installation of a white buffalo called Kwai Calm was broken by a drunk British tourist who attempted to climb atop the sculpture, which stands in front of Samyan Mitrtown.
No need for blows in martial arts row
News, Published on 19/12/2022
» Khmer traditional martial arts, or "Kun Lbokator", was among this year's 22 new inscriptions to Unesco's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (ICH), as announced at the 17th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, which was convened from Nov 28 to Dec 3 2022, in Rabat, Morocco.
Blasts from the past with Thai film posters
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 08/07/2022
» Thai posters of Hollywood films have rightfully gained something of a cult following (movie pun intended). They are an art form in their own right since Thai artists took the liberty of creating local versions of famous Hollywood films and reimagined them in a new light by hand, often adding key moments from the plot almost to the point of revealing spoilers as opposed to the subtle approach of their originals, which depicted just enough to pique your curiosity.
Mexico's cart ban marks generic shift
Oped, Published on 25/06/2022
» In April, the government of Mexico City's central Cuauhtémoc alcaldía, or borough, mandated that all its rótulos -- the hand-painted signs decorating street vendors' kiosks -- be erased.