The month of April is, of course, all about Songkran and celebrating the Thai New Year, but once the holidays subside remember that there’s still plenty going on in Bangkok’s always vibrant art scene. This gallery round-up sees several solo exhibitions taking place, as well as an interesting duo show, and a fundraising exhibition that brings together no less than 23 different artists.
(Hero image: One of many works by Bill Bentley featured in the show ‘Call of the Cardamoms’; Featured image: Photo from Jittima Sangeamsunthron’s ‘The Exquisite Silence’ show)
THE EXQUISITE SILENCE
Until May 25 at West Eden Gallery
At West Eden Gallery, on Sukhumvit Soi 31, the work of Thai photographer Jittima Sangeamsunthron is being presented in a solo show entitled ‘The Exquisite Silence’. Curated by Tom Potisit, it’s an exhibition that reflects on the serene power of silence amidst a spectrum of emotions and feelings – be they confusion, sadness, loneliness, or isolation. The selected images on display, of seemingly simple garden flowers, employ a variety of photographic processes, including traditional, digital, and a few alternative methods. In turn, the photos reveal not only the intricate details of the flowers, but also the profound connection between nature and the serenity within the human mind. By opening a space for the beauty of silence to emerge, replacing chaos with tranquility and stillness, Jittima captures the delicacy of the plants – undisturbed by external noise – which only reinforces the intrinsic beauty inherent in everyday life.
westedenbkk.com
THE CALL OF THE CARDAMOMS
Until April 30 at he Four Seasons Bangkok hotel’s MOCA Artspace
Known as a true maverick in the field of architecture and design, Bill Bensley is also an avid painter, and his current exhibition at the Four Seasons Bangkok hotel’s MOCA Artspace has been extended until the end of this month. Entitled ‘Call of the Cardamoms’, this final installment of his 4-month long residency at the hotel’s gallery space promises to be even more spectacular than the first two installments, as Bill is now enlisting the aid of 22 other acclaimed international artists – including painter Kate Spencer, photographer Hannes Schmid, and illustrator Bruce Pashak – to join him in bringing awareness to the plight of endangered wildlife and habitat in the Cardamon Rainforest of Cambodia. Proceeds from sales of all the artists’ work will go to support these vital causes, and in addition to the art on display Bill will also be presenting his first ever fashion show and sale (a sneak peek at his collaboration with Jim Thompson that will debut early next year).
bensleyoutsidergallery.com/exhibitions/call-of-the-cardamoms
MESSAGES FROM THE FUTURE
Until May 4 at the Ardel Gallery of Modern Art
The Ardel Gallery of Modern Art, on Boromratchonnanee Road, is currently featuring the work of the celebrated Thai artist Teerawat Ngarmchuachit in a solo show entitled ‘Messages from the Future’. The artworks on display are meant to serve as a warning sent from a world that is gradually deteriorating due to factors such as climate change, dust and pollution, and the wars and conflicts that lead to waves of migration. These messages seek to urge humanity in the here and now to recognise the dire consequences of the situation, and unite for change. The artist embodies these warnings in a series of seemingly simple yet ultimately powerful paintings, which each convey strong themes that demand attention. A native of Thonburi, Teerawat – now an Associate Professor – received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Printmaking from the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts at Silpakorn University.
ardelgallery.com
AFTER THE PINEAPPLE
Until May 31 at Warin Lab Contemporary
Curated by Clara Che Wei Peh, the exhibition ‘After the Pineapple’, at Warin Lab Contemporary, marks the first solo exhibition of a promising Malaysian artist, Cheong See Min. This showcase unveils a new body of work that culminates years of exploration and experimentation with the pineapple as fruit, material, and myth. The artist’s practice interrogates the relationship between nature and humans, and her method combines fibre, weaving, sculpture and installation to create the works grounded in nature and history. The show is also informed by research – both archival as well as anecdotal – into the colonial history of plantations in Malaysia, and the cost of sustaining the production and export of commercial crops from Peninsula Malaysia to England. Interestingly, her inquiry began with the personal, as her mother and grandmother were both pineapple farmers, and she grew up near a pineapple plantation in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Bringing this dialogue to Thailand, now one of the world’s largest pineapple producers, with its own rich history tied to the fruit, gives this exhibition extra significance.
warinlab.com/exhibitions
GENESIS THROUGH SIAMESE & PERSIAN EYES
Until June 4 at the Chulalongkorn University Museum
The Office of Art and Culture and the Center for South Asian Studies, under the Institute of Asian Studies at Chulalongkorn University, is presenting an exhibition featuring the work of two artists from very distinct backgrounds. The show, on now at the Chulalongkorn University Museum, is entitled ‘Genesis Through Siamese and Persian Eyes’ and presents narratives from the Lanna legend Pathommunmuli; the ancient palm-leaf manuscript from northern Thailand consisting of five stories that describe the creation of the world by Grandfather Sangkhaya Sangkasi and Grandmother Itthangkhaya Sangkasi (regarded as the ancestors of Lanna). Thai artist Kangwanprai Chompupuen interprets the legend using acrylic on canvas and a contemporary Thai painting style, while Iranian-born but Bangkok-based artist Arash Geroeian employs traditional Persian watercolour techniques on paper. Their creative collaboration results in a unique fusion of artistic identities, serving as a platform for the exchange of artistic knowledge and inspiration, and fostering a cultural dialogue between the nations of Thailand and Persia (which since 1935 has been known as Iran).
facebook.com/chulamuseum
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
