• LIFE

  Shining a light at the Bangkok Biennial

  Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 11/07/2018

  » 'Coming Soon" sounds like the stuff of theatrical trailers. "Coming soon to a city near you" evokes the reproduction and decentralisation of a system, an ever-multiplying model and the balancing act between a one-size-fits-all mould and local specificities.

• THAILAND

  Three months of edgy grassroots art

  Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 06/07/2018

  » Bangkok's first-ever Biennial officially kicked off on Sunday night with an evening aerobics session on the Chao Phraya riverside at a popular spot for dwellers and sports lovers beneath the Rama VIII bridge. The choice of location -- anchored in Bangkok residents' daily lives -- and the disruptive event itself -- complete with ceremonial opening remarks and a ribbon-cutting moment -- set the tone (i.e. caustic, critical and edgy) for the many art exhibitions and activities to be held in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand in the coming months.

• LIFE

  What's trending and happening this week

  Muse, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 26/05/2018

  » 1. If you couldn't make it to Japan this spring, Zen restaurants are bringing you a taste of the archipelago's delicious seafood dishes, and the cherry blossom tree decor that goes with it. For the duration of its Hanami Festival, the restaurant chain offers eight dishes prepared by expert chefs, with discounts of up to 50%, satisfying your palate as well as wallet. While the Hanami Festival at Zen restaurant branches lasts until June 15, you'll have to hurry in order to taste top-quality dishes and the four healthy dishes the chefs have concocted. Executive Bento Boxes, Teriyaki Duo Salmon Unagi, Salmon Black Pepper Steak and Shima Hokke sets are available under the "Happy Fish, Healthy Food" campaign until May 31.

• LIFE

  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.

• THAILAND

  Out of the shadows, almost

  Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 25/04/2018

  » The coming months could mark a turning point for Thailand as an art destination, as the country prepares to host not one but three major contemporary art events.

• LIFE

  The heaviness of history, worn lightly

  Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 28/02/2018

  » Suddenly, Thai traditional costumes have made a quiet comeback -- for at least a month or so.

• LIFE

  Honouring the past

  Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 07/02/2018

  » Royal agencies and the government are hard at work to help Bangkok residents enjoy the wave of cold that has hit the city. From Feb 8 until March 11, the Dusit Winter Festival (Oon Ai Rak) will be held at the Royal Plaza and the nearby Sanam Suapa, the historic quarters that will be transformed into an exhibition space and fairground.

• LIFE

  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.

• LIFE

  Entertaining a dark soul

  Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 15/11/2017

  » Writer Franz Kafka's sombre, absurd, yet resolutely modern universe has long been a source of inspiration for filmmakers; his novels and short stories having provided the basis for several film adaptations, from Orson Welles' critically-acclaimed The Trial to lesser-known movies such as Michael Haneke's The Castle. As part of "Unfolding Kafka Festival 2017", an expert explains how Kafka's works continue to fascinate readers and audiences, in large part due to the Czech writer's sharp intuition and "prophetic" perception of modern-day woes.

• LIFE

  Seeking truth and justice

  Life, Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong, Published on 27/09/2017

  » After moments of introduction, Chaiyapoom's face appears on the projection screen, a makeshift silver screen like the one on which his films could have been shown. The singing voice too belongs to the 17-year-old Lahu activist, killed in March this year for resisting arrest after soldiers allegedly found methamphetamine pills in his car.

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