Art in Bangkok: Gallery tours, German influence and social malaise

There's lots happening in Bangkok art in the coming weeks but before we get into this month's highlights, some good news for the city's art appreciators. Travel company Exotissimo is offering a monthly "Absolute Art" tour for Bangkok's English speakers.

Alternating monthly between the Sukhumvit and Silom districts, the monthly culture tour includes visits to some of the city’s most interesting exhibitions.

The tours begin on on September 25 and will be hosted by Bangkok Art Map (BAM!) editor Steven Pettifor. (For details see www.exotissimo.com).

BAM!, published every month in Thai and English and distributed free in Bangkok, takes a look at some of the exhibitions this month’s tour will hit. As promised, here are the highlights:

Self-portrait of Australian artist David Rosetzky.

Face to Face, September 10 to October 17

Let’s face it, we humans are a vain species. Obsessed by our own appearance, in today’s increasingly youth, beauty, and celebrity dominated society we are constantly looking for ways to freshen our physical features. And thanks to an expanding portfolio of self-promotional imaging served up through social networking sites or virtual identity fantasies like Second Life, the world is also given access to our narcissistic preoccupations. 

Against such a backdrop, the Australian Embassy has organized the multi-media exhibition Face to Face featuring 14 artists from Down Under who provide a unique and engaging perspective on how digital technologies are reshaping our understanding and experience of contemporary identity.

Art Centre Chulalongkorn University, Centre of Academic Resources, Chulalongkorn University, Phaya Thai Road, Tel: +66 (0)2 218 2965. Open Monday-Friday, 9am-7pm, Saturday 9am-4pm. BTS: Siam.

"Just do it" by Sansern Milindasuta.

Return Ticket: Thailand–Germany, September 14 to November 7

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Goethe-Institut in Thailand, this exhibition brings together almost 30 Thai artists that have spent time in Germany. Many furthered their artistic studies in Germany, while others passed through briefly as exhibiting artists.

How, and if at all, their time in Germany affected their creativity is the focus of the 100 art works on display.

BACC, 939 Rama I Rd, Pathumwan. Tel: +66 (0)2 214 6630. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-9pm. BTS: National Stadium.

An image from "Manorah and Best Friend of the Snake" by Sakarin Krue-on.

Manorah and Best Friend of the Snake, September 9 to October 24

After heavyweight international Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija finished his visual dialogue on the fallout from Thailand’s recent political protests, another internationally renowned artist, Sakarin Krue-on, offers his multimedia interpretations of the nation’s social malaise.

Back in 2004, Sakarin displayed the atmospheric canine installation Cloud Nine at Tonson, while his latest presentation employs video, photography, paintings and objects.


100 Tonson Gallery, 100 Soi Tonson, Phloenchit Road. Tel: +66 (0)2 684 1527. Open Thursday-Sunday, 11am-7pm. BTS: Chitlom.

A piece by Maitree Siriboon now on display at Tang Gallery.

Differ-ence, September 15 to October 15


Bringing together the interesting pairing of Maitree Siriboon and Preeyachanok Ketsuwan, this exhibition looks at how people shape perceptions of one another and how this filters into and draws from cultural identifiers.

The more established of the two, Maitree uses albino buffaloes as a metaphor for racial prejudices, while Preeyachanok looks to her role as a female within the family unit.


Tang 
Unit B-28 (Basement), Silom Galleria, 919/1 Soi 19. Tel: +66 (0)2 630 1114. Open Monday-Saturday, 11am–7pm. BTS: Surasak.

A piece by British photographer Simon Larbalestier appearing in H Gallery's exhibition "Surface Depth."

Surface Depth, until September 30


Looking at surface as an entry point to a diversity of media and thematic explorations, this group exhibition features 12 Thai and international artists.

Working within sound, text, photography, installation and painting, the artists include Arin Rungjang, whose previous installations include a gallery filled with mud, and Bangkok based British photographers Simon Larbalestier and Olivier Pin-Fat.


H Gallery
, 201 Soi 12 Sathorn Road. Tel: +66 (0)81 310 4428. Open daily, 10am-6pm, Tuesday by appointment. BTS: Surasak

"Love the Dogs" features piece by Sakarin Krue-on and Chatchawan Asomkid.

Love the Dogs, until October 4

Man’s best friend has often proved a source for artistic inspiration. In 2004, Sakarin Krue-on presented ceramic sculptures of street mutts, and currently on view at Thavibu are acrobatically poised, resin mould canines by Chatchawan Asomkid.

Assuming the pseudonyms El Grump and Cloheena Star, the international artist couple import another pooch-centered exhibition through techniques of textile sculpture, neon lighting, wallpaper and photography.

Toot Yung, 19 Prachathipratai Road. Tel: +66 (0)84 914 5499. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 2pm-8pm
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A piece by Thavibu Jirapat now showing in "Camouflage."

Camouflage, September 18 to October 10

Thai artist Jirapat Tatsanasomboon is well known for applying a pop-art style to his paintings, which often feature interactions between the East-West and Modern-Traditional.

He appropriates images from well-known European masterpieces by the likes of Henri Matisse, Edvard Munch and Keith Haring, and inserts readily identifiable Thai iconography as a commentary on Thai society by re-interpreting the celebrated master paintings and using them as "camouflage."

Thavibu
Suite 308, Silom Galleria F3, 919/1 Silom Road, Soi 19. Tel: +66 (0)2 266 5454. Open Monday to Saturday, 11am-7pm. BTS: Surasak

A sculpture by Thai artist Teerapom Hosanga, now on display at WTF.

The Form of The Formless, until Sep 29

Having ironed out initial chinks with their lighting, WTF gallery hosts an atmospheric display of architecturally inspired complex geometric sculptures by Teerapom Hosanga.

The MFA student from Silpakorn University installs six spatially challenging forms that also pull from nature, with one large wire frame sculpture suspended high above the narrow lane in front of the café.


WTF Gallery, 7 Sukhumvit Soi 51. Tel: +66 (0)2 662 6246. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 3-10pm. BTS: Thonglor


"See Saw Seen III" features works by 16 Thai and international artists.

See Saw Seen III, until Sep 26

Now in its third year, Ardel’s growing annual photographic showcase benefits from the promotional backing of Sony, with all the 16 participating Thai and international artists shooting new works on Sony’s new Nex-5 camera.

The prints on view are primarily concerned with seductive aesthetics, although a couple of the artists contribute more conceptually challenging works.


DOB Hualamphong, Resident One Property Co, Ltd, DOB Building 2F, 318 Rama IV Road. Tel: +66 (0)85 482 3566. Open daily, 10am- 7pm. MRT: Hualamphong