Showing 1 - 10 of 23
Serving a higher purpose
Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 04/06/2018
» The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) made headlines last month owing to more than one reason. Even before (appointed) Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang articulated his irking comments -- by which he made it known to the world that he would like to see the art centre turned into a co-working space packed with chairs -- critics and defenders of the BACC's management were already arguing on social media.
Art and coup: Four years and counting
Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 23/05/2018
» Tuesday marked the fourth anniversary of the May 2014 coup d'etat. While it continues to underpin the political landscape, the coup also sparked an unprecedented rise in Thai artworks with political messages. A new political art exhibition took place almost every month since May 2014.
Politics as art
Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 02/05/2018
» You can observe Eiji Sumi's seesaw-like art installation from a distance, or you can engage with it. Either way, it's "play or be played", as the larger-than-life platform offers biting commentary on the mechanics of politics.
To kill an Indochinese leopard
Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 18/04/2018
» In the past two months, there has hardly been a week during which the phrase sua dam wasn't mentioned in the news. The slaughter of an Indochinese leopard -- though it's often referred to, incorrectly, as a black panther -- has sparked a wave of outrage, news coverage, moral indignation and street art paintings.
Subtly subversive
Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 10/01/2018
» 'I'm not an artist -- I'm only 50% of an artist," said Michael Elmgreen of the Nordic duo Elmgreen & Dragset on his recent visit to Bangkok.
A trio of biennials
Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 25/12/2017
» 'Thailand's first biennial(e)" is a phrase you'll most certainly hear next year, as the country will hold not one but three different art biennials in 2018, with the organisers of each claiming theirs as the earliest project.
Chaos reigns
Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 07/11/2017
» Since last month, all registered low-income earners in Thailand were issued a state-subsidised welfare card to help ease the burden of everyday expenses. The card promises to cover basic needs costs, from groceries to transportation and cooking gas.
Monarchical chronicles
Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 18/10/2017
» In a 1970 address to librarians nationwide, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej compared books to knowledge banks, "a collection of everything mankind has built, done and invented since ancient times". His remark thus highlighted the importance of these everyday objects in the human experience.
Lumpini's cats run out of lives
Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 11/09/2017
» Barely a year after the municipality staff employed at Lumpini Park set out to rid the facility's pond, alleys and lawns from monitor lizards, they are at it again.
Blue-sky thinking?
Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 21/08/2017
» Over the last few months, crossing the Pathumwan intersection on foot was a near-impossible task requiring pedestrians to zig-zag along the mazes of malls and footpaths, as the pedestrian bridges were closed-off by a major construction site.