Showing 1 - 10 of 26
A national blindside for contemporary art
Life, Kaona Pongpipat, Published on 08/08/2016
» Ten million baht was the sum that 81-year-old Waraporn Suravadi, the caretaker of the Bangkok Folk's Museum, needed to buy the plot of land next to her museum, which was to become the site of an eight-storey building. That construction project could potentially spoil the view and atmosphere of the museum -- a well-preserved war-era teak house that displays rare and valuable items dating back more than 100 years, to the reign of King Rama V.
Exhibition asks, 'Has happiness returned to Thailand?'
Life, Kaona Pongpipat, Published on 27/07/2016
» If "Fear" -- Manit Sriwanichapoom's latest photography and video show, which opened over the past weekend at H Gallery, Tang Contemporary Art and Kathmandu Photo Gallery (and at Yavuz Gallery in Singapore at the end of the month) -- isn't the hottest topic of discussion in the capital's art scene already, it soon will be.
Sense behind the madness
Life, Kaona Pongpipat, Published on 08/07/2016
» One is either enthralled, frustrated or confused by Apichatpong Weerasethakul's films. It's possibly a reflex of a complex and conflicting emotion -- you are not sure whether it's yourself as an audience or Apichatpong as a filmmaker that inspire those reactions.
Brand New World
Life, Kaona Pongpipat, Published on 29/06/2016
» Chiang Mai has long been Bangkok's arch-rival when it comes to being the country's art hub -- the capital has the money and the galleries, while the northern city has the vibe and an increasing role as artists' preferred habitat. This Sunday, Chiang Mai will take a huge leap with the opening of MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum, a privately owned space by Jean Michel Beurdeley, his late wife Patsri Bunnag and their son Eric Bunnag Booth.
Cool Thailand?
Life, Kaona Pongpipat, Published on 29/04/2016
» It is only with reference to J-pop or K-pop that we have a clue as to what the word "T-pop" could possibly mean: an attempt at cultural export -- film, music and other forms of entertainment -- to create a "Thai brand" of cool. It's better late than never, so the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has recently launched a campaign, with Thai star Mario Maurer as the presenter, with the aim to boost tourism in Thailand and expand the entertainment market in China.
Rocky road of life
Life, Kaona Pongpipat, Published on 03/03/2016
» Bangkok-based English-speaking theatre troupe Peel the Limelight's previous performance, The True History Of The Tragic Life And Triumphant Death Of Julia Pastrana, was quite a success at Bangkok Theatre Festival last year winning Best Direction of a Play and Best Performance by an Ensemble from the International Association of Theatre Critics (Thailand Centre). Now, they are back with yet another promising production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning How I Learned To Drive by the American playwright Paula Vogel.
All aboard the magical molam bus
Life, Kaona Pongpipat, Published on 15/12/2015
» At the second edition of Wonderfruit, a four-day arts and lifestyle festival which begins this Thursday, we don't only have international acts to look forward to. Sure, there's soulful lyricism from rapper Yasiin Bey (AKA Mos Def), the much-hyped R&B duo Rhye whose songs like Open are sure to transport you into a trance, and Com Truise's catchy synth pop. But at the festival our home-grown bands have a lot to offer too.
The Island Funeral scoops prestigious film award
Life, Kaona Pongpipat, Published on 06/11/2015
» Several years in the making, director Pimpaka Towira's feature film The Island Funeral (Maha Samut Lae Susan) won the Asian Future Film Award at the 28th Tokyo International Film Festival last weekend. The award, which was established two years ago, is given to the best work by first- and second-time directors.
Mapping out Chiang Mai's art scene
Life, Kaona Pongpipat, Published on 28/10/2015
» Long before becoming the capital of hip coffee places, Chiang Mai has long been a city of art. But even for locals, planning a gallery-hopping trip can be mind-boggling, with almost 50 galleries spread across the city and its environs. Although long overdue, it's great news for art lovers that Chiang Mai Art Conversation, or CAC, has just recently launched the Chiang Mai Art Map.
Lessons from the trenches
Life, Kaona Pongpipat, Published on 16/07/2015
» Through movements with a bit of monologue and dialogue, B-Floor's Sarut Komalittipong and Sasapin Siriwanij present their debut directorial production WW101 on the occasion of the 101st anniversary of the World War I. The idea began when the two directors travelled to Europe, visiting the Dachau concentration camp and realising how little they actually knew about the World Wars.