Showing 1 - 10 of 29
Getting soft power right
Life, Published on 08/01/2024
» After three months in office, the Srettha Thavisin government has raved on about populist policies in the guise of digital wallets and soft power projects that will create income to boost our declining economy. With optimism, we learned that Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pheu Thai party leader and head of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee (NSPSC), has drafted a budget of 5.1 billion baht to boost festivals and creative industries. It is welcoming news to hear this government is priortising art, music, literature, design, fashion, film, food, games, sports and festivals as essential sources for the creative economy. Where this enormous chunk of budget will come from, like digital wallets, remains to be seen.
Making scents
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 07/03/2023
» During the time when Chalida Kunalai, a scent designer, was creating a mackerel odour for a set of 12 children's books titled Ni Than Lom Hai Jai (Scent Tales), a cat often roamed near the front door of her office, NOSEstory. Eventually she let the cat in the office, where it indeed nosed around to find the appetising fish. There was no mackerel, but there was some proof Chalida had succeeded.
Seen and heard
Life, John Clewley, Published on 11/10/2022
» It has been nearly 30 years since Dr Grace Nono released her first album on a new label, Tao Music, which she set up with her late partner, producer and guitarist Bob Aves. With her musical collaborator, she set about searching for her musical identity.
Change is constant
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 28/02/2022
» When entering the exhibition "City Adaptation Lab!" at Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC), visitors cannot miss the sculpture Rok-Ra-Bat (Pandemic) by Kaninyan Chandrasma. It is a broken tube sitting on a tall pedestal. According to the description, one small silver dot breaks out from the broken tube and multiplies into numerous silver dots which resemble a pandemic spreading around the world. If visitors take a closer look at the silver dots, they will see their reflections in each. This raises the question if the origin of the pandemic is people.
It's all about perspectives
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 15/02/2022
» It is difficult to overcome something you believe is your weakness. Wisut Ponnimit, a cartoonist, animator, artist and musician who is known for his cheerful and cute girl character Mamuang (translated as mango), is not comfortable painting because he thinks he is not good at it.
Bangkok Design Week is back
Guru, Published on 04/02/2022
» The fifth edition of Bangkok Design Week returns this weekend, serving as a platform for designers, creators, entrepreneurs, producers, artists, public agencies and individuals to explore coexistence with Covid-19; to find a new way of life for the future. Under the "Co With Creation" theme, the design week has a threefold mission. First, to encourage creators' creativity and experimentation to create a new normal lifestyle. Second, to support creative businesses and communities to generate income. And, third, to revitalise creative districts of Charoen Krung-Talad Noi, Sam Yan, Ari-Pradipat, Thonglor-Ekamai and Phra Nakhon through online and offline activities. These are just five out of 30 highlights, many of which take place at the Grand Postal Building and TCDC. Go to bangkokdesignweek.com.
Cartoon characters reimagined
Life, Published on 05/08/2021
» The virtual reality Art Bakery Gallery presents the next bi-monthly 360-degree immersive VR exhibition project with the online showcase "Reborn" until Aug 31.
Of khaen and men
Life, John Clewley, Published on 16/02/2021
» Thai Country Living, a short film documentary released in 2020, is a delightful sojourn into the rural life of khaen maker Suman "Chang Bour" Tapkham, his family and village in the peaceful backwaters of the Isan region.
Out of the shadow of the Cold War
Life, Published on 24/09/2020
» The Cold War saw the birth of the persuasive power of cinema. In the early 1950s, the United States decided that psychological warfare was needed to thwart communist threats in Southeast Asia and so it set up a propaganda unit to produce movies, documentary films, cartoons and pamphlets to provoke a red scare among the people. The United States Information Services (Usis) was also active in Thailand during this decade of sinister geopolitics. Its main responsibility was to produce a number of narrative and documentary films which would be screened around the country to promote American-style democracy and caution people against the deadly dominance of communism.
Wild style
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 23/03/2020
» The human body has an incredible design. Female natural body lines, gorgeous shapes and aesthetic forms have been brought into classic and elegant visuals by exceptional photographer Sylvie Blum at the photo exhibition "Naked Beauty" at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Moca Bangkok). This is the first exhibition in Asia that displays more than 100 images taken by Blum, including original prints from her "Naked Beauty Series", her world-famous "Big Cat Series" and her "Animal Series" as well as 200 images showing her very own diary over the past 20 years.