Showing 1 - 9 of 9
A monument of emptiness and embarrassment
Life, Apinan Poshyananda, Published on 15/05/2023
» On Thiam Ruam Mit Road, Huai Khwang, a huge and empty building with a triangular façade has stood for years. A big plaque on the lawn in Thai translates to The National Gallery of Art. With no activities inside, people are left wondering when it will open. Is it true that there are plans to convert it into mixed-use spaces instead of a display of national treasures of modern and contemporary Thai art?
Judging by the cover
Life, Chris Baker, Published on 02/09/2022
» We first published A History Of Thailand in 2005, 17 years ago. We have just prepared a fourth edition, adding a new chapter on the extraordinary events since 2005, and over 200 other changes based on new research, mostly by Thai historians. We needed a new cover to signal that this edition is really different.
Hashtags of hate
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 17/01/2022
» A week ago, the hashtags #BanSitala and #BanLuknang returned to social media again after K-pop girl group H1-Key dropped their debut music video Athletic Girl and performed in an online press conference. These hashtags appeared for the first time last December when South Korean entertainment agency Grandline Group (GLG) announced the debut of H1-Key, which included Thai singer Sitala Wongkrachang as the rapper. Sitala is the daughter of the famous late actor and political activist Saranyu Wongkrachang. When Thai anti-government supporters and K-pop fans discovered that Sitala had entered the industry, they were furious as her family had a role in the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) rallies, which led to the 2014 coup. They accused her of being a supporter of a dictatorship.
Dr Dolittle Prayut does little but talk
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 27/12/2021
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha made ludicrous headlines again when he broached the subject of animals during his official visit to southern border provinces. It is not surprising that the macho general again doted on creatures. A few years ago, he shared a photo of him in casual clothes and a cuddly dog on his lap. However, his interaction with animals in provincial trips often lands him in hot water.
Reasons for optimism
Life, Kingsley Wijayasinha, Published on 20/12/2021
» The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic may have prevented any growth in the Thai automobile market in 2021, but there has been a good number of interesting automotive developments that took place this year.
A cult of nothingness
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 06/09/2021
» Last week, coup-installed senators convened in the corridors of power. When one senator tabled a motion for the virtuous council, I felt like we had travelled back in time to the Second World War. In 1939, the government of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram issued cultural mandates to strengthen Siam in the context of the global war.
Differences deserve respect, not scorn
Life, Patcharawalai Sanyanusin, Published on 19/04/2021
» 'One of the truest signs of maturity is the ability to disagree with someone while still remaining respectful."
Chronicling the past
Life, Pattarawadee Saengmanee, Published on 15/07/2020
» When the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) held a mass rally against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2014, WTF Gallery & Cafe hosted the "Conflicted Visions" exhibition and questioned if people could coexist despite different ideologies. A few weeks after the show ended, a coup took place and today Thais still live in a polarised society.
Contemporary mission
Life, Story: Apipar Norapoompipat, Published on 10/04/2018
» A few months prior to its 10th anniversary, the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) made a major announcement: a new director. As of March 1, Pawit Mahasarinand has taken the helm of the city's main art venue and the largest public-funded art centre in the country, a surprising choice to many, though an entirely welcoming one.