May is here, and with all that’s going on in Bangkok’s always vibrant art scene it’s another great month to do some gallery hopping. This recommended round-up includes the rebirth of one of the city’s most cherished contemporary art spaces, as well as one group show and three solo shows.
(Hero image: Detail of a work by Vacharanont Sinvaravatn on display at Nova Contemporary; Featured image: ‘The Bee’ by MRKREME at MOCA Bangkok)
RESONANT ABSTRACTIONS
Until May 31 at SAC Gallery
The eagerly anticipated debut solo show by artist D-Jai Kosiyabong, curated by Miranda K. Metcalf, is on now at SAC Gallery on Sukhumvit Soi 39. Entitled ‘Resonant Abstractions’, this exhibition allows the artist to interrogate the intersection of visual art, sound, language and memory, creating an immersive multisensory experience that challenges conventional perceptions of communication. The display, which takes up the 2nd floor of the gallery space, features a striking collection of abstract paintings (paired with sound) that extend beyond traditional artistic boundaries. D-Jai’s innovative approach transforms linguistic patterns into dynamic visual compositions whilst simultaneously translating these visual elements into layered sound experiences, inviting visitors to “listen with their eyes and see with their ears”. Her work has garnered widespread interest from art collectors across the United States, Europe, and Asia, reflecting her ability to create art that communicates profoundly across cultural boundaries.
sac.gallery
FAILURE AS FUEL
Until June 1 at Tang Contemporary Art
Bernandi Desanda, who in the art world goes by the name “Berbrain”, is an Indonesian artist working primarily with oil, pigment sticks, solid markers, and spray on canvas. His first solo show in Thailand being is being held at Tang Contemporary Art (on the second floor at River City Bangkok) and is amusingly called ‘Failure as Fuel: On Berbrain’s Embrace of the Uncertain’. His vibrantly colourful works are fragmented, open-ended narratives that privilege process over resolution, functioning not as definitive statements, but as moments suspended within an ongoing, evolving story. In a culture that celebrates clarity and completion, failure remains one of the most radical ideas for an artist to explore. But what if failure itself is not the opposite of success, but it’s necessary companion? What if that detour is where the real work begins? Whether exploring internal struggles, or fantastical worlds where danger and joy intertwine, Berbrain treats fear and uncertainty as a source of momentum rather than paralysis.
tangcontemporary.com
AFFINITIES
Until July 5 at Nova Contemporary
Nova Contemporary recently moved from its longtime address on Soi Mahatlek Luang 3, to its new home at 86 Si Phraya Road, in the heart of Bang Rak. The inaugural exhibition, to celebrate the new space’s opening, is an expansive group show entitled ‘Affinities’, featuring nearly 30 artists whose works will be arranged into thematic pairings and groups. Spanning three decades of experimentation and evolution in Thai contemporary art, the show celebrates the creative community that has flourished around Nova over the past eight years. A main highlight is the pairing of Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook and the late Montien Boonma, close friends and artistic peers who represented Thailand at the 2005 Venice Biennale. Other names to look for on display include Inson Wongsam, Mit Jai Inn, Pinaree Sanpitak, Nipan Oranniwesna, Chatchai Puipia, Udomsak Krisanamis, Jakkai Siributr, Tawatchai Puntusawasdi, Jedsada Tangtrakulwong, Arin Rungjang, Prae Pupityastaporn, Vacharanont Sinvaravatn, Supawich Weesapen, Natalie Sasi Organ, Moe Satt, Korakrit Arunanondchai, Tada Hengsapkul, Kawita Vatanajyankur, Latthapon Korkiatarkul, Saroot Supasuthivech, Channatip Chanvipava, Pam Virada, Dhanut Tungsuwan, James Prapaithong, Apichaya Wannakit, and Chetsada Phuwiang.
novacontemporary.com
BOOTLEG SHOW
Until June 29 at MOCA Bangkok
When the Thai-Hong Kong artist MRKREME (aka: Varagun Chongthanapipat) observed a notable gap between his original art toy designs and the factory-produced versions, it raised an important question: where does true originality reside? An attempt to address this query is the idea behind ‘The Bootleg Show’, which runs until the end of next month at MOCA Bangkok. Plasticine was the material first used by the artist to create prototypes for his art toys, and here he returns to it as a means of intentional distortion. This manipulation of form, enabled by the pliability of plasticine, is reflected across these multidisciplinary works, including paintings, sculptures, and video installations. These works often incorporate elements of parody and appropriation, further blurring the boundaries between original creation and transformation. One of the central figures in the artist’s work is Mushkin, a furry monster whose development was shaped by unintended distortions encountered during the manufacturing process.
mocabangkok.com
BACK TO THE FLOW
Until May 31 at La Lanta Fine Art
You have until the end of this month to drop in on La Lanta Fine Art, on Narathiwat Soi 22, where a group show by six contemporary Thai artists is on display. Entitled ‘Back To The Flow’, it showcases works by such widely acclaimed talents as Yuree Kensaku, Tawatchai Puntusawasdi, Maythee Noijinda, Pod Thanachai Ujjin, Krit Ngamsom, and Rukkit Satapornvajana. Each one takes this opportunity to share their perspectives on artistic inspiration, taking viewers on an exploration of their respective aesthetic, identity, and worldview. One thing these individuals all have in common is their constant commitment to the process of creating their unique artwork – which reflects the “Flow State”, a concept proposed by the Hungarian-American psychologist Mihaly Csikzentmihalyi. By attempting to answer the question of why artists keep creating, this exhibition also focuses on Thai contemporary artists who never stop offering new things to art viewers.
lalanta.com
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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