Showing 11 - 20 of 38
Preserving an ancient art
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 26/04/2022
» Despite a two-year hiatus, Nutchanat La-ongsri commanded a stage with unwavering power. Donning a large headpiece, she pulled on a white costume with a red strap tied on her upper body. Her back rose up like a bird's tail. She pressed her hands in front, showing silver bracelets and nail tips. After a wai kru ceremony, she staged a play in nora kaek, the dying breed of performance art from the Deep South.
Longing for the homeland
Life, John Clewley, Published on 04/01/2022
» Mali emerged on international stages in the mid-1980s with singers like Salif Keita and bands like Bamako's legendary Rail Band du Buffet Hotel de la Gare (which launched the careers of both Salif Keita and the late Mory Kante). These singers are from the central region, they perform music of the Mande people and have been joined by music from other regions, notably from the southern Wassoullou region (music from megastars like Oumou Sangare) and northern and eastern Mali, the latter of which was promoted by the late guitarist/singer Ali Farka Toure.
Return of Doumbia
Life, John Clewley, Published on 20/07/2021
» Over the past half-century, the land-locked West African nation Mali has produced some terrific singers and bands.
Eclectic music to soak in
Life, John Clewley, Published on 08/06/2021
» I once spent several weeks travelling around Southern Italy, camping in Puglia and Calabria.
The evolution of khon
Life, Amitha Amranand, Published on 22/04/2021
» Choreographer Jitti Chompee's ongoing khon project, which includes Melancholy Of Demon, a dance performance that I reviewed earlier this month, is supported by the Ministry of Culture and departments and offices under its umbrella. This is a surprising level of governmental support granted to a contemporary dance artist who wants to do not-so-genteel things with khon and the character of Tossakan. I still remember how in 2006 the Ministry of Culture reportedly forced Somtow Sucharitkul to change the scene in his opera Ayodhya that depicted the death of Tossakan (Ravan in the opera version) onstage, a practice that is considered a bad omen in Thailand.
Home is where the art is
Life, Yvonne Bohwongprasert, Published on 22/07/2020
» When budding female artists Maneerat Thamnarak and Pantira Chaikaew decide to launch a duo exhibition using discarded wood and paper cutting art respectively to bring to life what home meant to them, the audience can rest assured the results will not disappoint.
Top 25 Singles of 2019 (Part II)
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 29/12/2019
» As tradition dictates, we rummaged through some 200 singles we'd reviewed over the past 12 months and narrowed it down to 25. Here's what we learned in 2019: Thai fusion is still very much a go-to for most up-and-coming bands including Southern Boys and Suthep Entertainment, who both look to their roots for inspiration. This year also had its fair share of blazingly political moments, thanks to Solange, Lana Del Rey and our own rap troupe Rap Against Dictatorship. One final note, even though this list is split into two parts spreading across this and next week, these tracks are not ranked and their order is completely arbitrary in nature.
Comedic fun with whodunnit
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 13/12/2019
» Old-fashioned whodunnit or detective murder-mystery stories are very successful as novels and television series, but we don't get to see as many of them on film nowadays, let alone a decent one. We may have had the remake of Murder On The Orient Express two years ago, although the movie was kind of a flop, or there's the Sherlock Holmes movie franchise with Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. But even those are based on already very popular characters in literature.
Netflix embraces Thainess
B Magazine, Published on 22/09/2019
» An island wrecked by tsunami. Over 30 teenagers left at shore to fend for themselves. Supernatural occurrences. These elements make up the basis of The Stranded, Thailand's first original series to be premiered on the Netflix global streaming platform at the end of this year.
The mark of a man... and woman
Life, Karnjana Karnjanatawe, Published on 24/07/2019
» The ethnic tattoo cultures of Thailand and Taiwan have been brought together for a show at Museum Siam on Sanam Chai Road in Bangkok.