Bangkok Art Biennale returns for its 2024 edition titled:
Nurture Gaia
bringing 76 leading international artists to
Southeast Asia across eleven city-wide venues
24 October 2024 – 25 February 2025
Bangkok, 6 September 2024 – Returning for its fourth edition this October, the Bangkok Art Biennale, organised in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), The Fine Arts Department (FAD), Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thai Beverage Public Company Limited (ThaiBev) and One Bangkok, with the support of other private and public sectors, is delighted to announce 31 additional international artists and two more venues for the Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB), titled Nurture Gaia. The expansion of artists and venues further enriches the city-wide event and continues to spotlight Southeast Asia’s vibrant art scene while also bringing diverse international perspectives to the continent. The various Biennale-host locations include ancient heritage sites such as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and the Temple of Dawn, the Museum Siam, art galleries, and more. Running from 24 October 2024 to 25 February 2025, the Biennale will showcase 76 leading artists from 39 countries across 11 venues.
Nurture Gaia draws its inspiration from the maternal figure of Mother Earth, symbolising her historical expressions as a nurturer and giver of life across cultures. Conceptually extending upon this, the Bangkok Art Biennale will explore vital contemporary themes such as anthropology, collectivism, ecology, feminism, and the politics of time and place. The ‘Gaia Hypothesis’ proposes that the Earth functions like a living organism that supports life across organic and inorganic matter. Today, we face urgent issues such as climate change, pandemics, war, and environmental destruction caused by humans. There is a growing realisation that humanity, as an integral part of Earth, is facing critical challenges.
The Biennale will feature a constellation of artworks, many of which will be on display for the first time, including drawings, paintings, sculptures, videos, and installations from established and emerging artists and collectives. The additional 31 participating artists include: Busui Ajaw (Thailand), Bruce Asbestos (UK), Lena Bui (Vietnam), Kanya Charoensupkul (Thailand), Viriya Chotpanyavisut (Thailand), Daniela Comani (Italy), Tony Cragg (UK), Rob Crosse (UK), Lello Esposito (Italy), Gimhongsok (South Korea), Agi Haines (UK), Mella Jaarsma (The Netherlands / Indonesia), George K. (India), Anish Kapoor (UK), Chitti Kasemkitvatana (Thailand), Cole Lu (Taiwan), Maria Madeira (Timor-Leste), Zul Mahmod (Singapore), Nakrob Moonmanas (Thailand), Sophirat Muangkham (Thailand), Mutmee Pimdao Panichsamai (Thailand), Deneth Piumakshi Veda Arachchige (Sri Lanka), Moe Satt (Myanmar), Thavika Savangwongsakul (Thailand), Latai Taumoepeau (Australia), Komkrit Tepthian (Thailand), Tian Xiaolei (China), Aleksandar Timotic (Serbia), Jasmine Togo-Brisby (Australia), Wang Xiyao (China), and Pokchat Worasub (Thailand).
*Please see Appendix A for the full artist list.
Programme highlights include a variety of artworks, such as performance and costume installation by Mella Jaarsma (The Netherlands / Indonesia), that explores the urgency of disappearing knowledge and the tension between contemporary art and tradition; Pokchat Worasub (Thailand) explores ethnic identity and marginality through photography; Agi Haines (UK) offers a provocative glimpse into the future of human adaptation, exploring the profound implications of potential body modifications designed to tackle emerging challenges; Adel Abdessemed (Algeria / France) will showcase a large-scale installation exploring the interconnectedness of mother and child; Mutmee Pimdao Panichsamai (Thailand) creates a new video work exploring the human mind and society using movement, lighting, and theatricality; Gimhongsok (South Korea) presents a new body of work, that consists of sculptural installations addressing the subject of labour conditions; Furthermore, major sculptures by renowned artists Anish Kapoor (UK) and Tony Cragg (UK) will be displayed at One Bangkok as a part of Bangkok Art Biennale 2024, and where they will remain permanently.
Our panel of esteemed advisors features seven prominent figures in the art world: Marina Abramović, world-renowned performance artist; Lito Camacho, Chairman, University of the Arts Singapore; Kim Camacho, art collector; Mami Kataoka, Director of Mori Art Museum; Jean-Hubert Martin, honorary director of the Musée National d'Art Moderne at the Centre Georges Pompidou; Qiu Zhijie, Artist, Curator, Writer, President of the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts and Professor at Central Academy of Fine Arts; and Dr. Eugene Tan, Director of the National Gallery Singapore and the Singapore Art Museum.
Led by Prof. Dr. Apinan Poshyananda, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB), the dedicated curatorial team for this year’s edition includes Pojai Akratanakul, curatorial section lead of BAB; Dr. Brian Curtin, art critic and educator; Akiko Miki, International Artistic Director of Benesse Art Site Naoshima and curator; and Dr. Paramaporn Sirikulchayanont, lecturer and former Director of the Art Centre of Silpakorn University, Bangkok.
NOTES TO EDITORS
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
International:
Benji Prescott, Scott & Co: benji@scott-andco.com | (+44) 20 3487 0077
Arina Matveeva, Bangkok Art Biennale: arina.m@thaibev.com | (+66) 083-088-9385
Thailand:
Malisa Milinthangkul (Som), ThaiBev: malisa.m@thaibev.com | (+66) 096-593-6654
Please find the press kit for further information and images here: BAB 2024 PRESS KIT
@bkkartbiennale | www.bkkartbiennale.com | #bkkartbiennale #BAB2024 #NurtureGaia
ARTISTS
The full list of participating artists and collectives, representing North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Middle East, includes 76 artists:
1. Adel Abdessemed (Algeria / France)
2. Busui Ajaw (Thailand)
3. Haritorn Akarapat (Thailand)
4. Agnes Arellano (The Philippines)
5. Bruce Asbestos (UK)
6. Aideen Barry (Ireland)
7. Ari Bayuaji (Indonesia / Canada)
8. Joseph Beuys (Germany)
9. George Bolster (Ireland / USA)
10. Louise Bourgeois (France / USA)
11. Jennie Bringaker (Norway)
12. Lena Bui (Vietnam)
13. Dante Buu (Montenegro / Germany)
14. Chiara Camoni (Italy)
15. Kanya Charoensupkul (Thailand)
16. Choi Jeong Hwa (South Korea)
17. Isaac Chong Wai (Hong Kong / Berlin)
18. Viriya Chotpanyavisut (Thailand)
19. Susan Collins (UK)
20. Daniela Comani (Italy)
21. Amanda Coogan (Ireland)
22. Tony Cragg (UK)
23. Rob Crosse (UK)
24. Priyageetha Dia (Singapore)
25. Guerreiro do Divino Amor (Switzerland / Brazil)
26. Nick Dudka (Russia)
27. Elmgreen & Dragset (Denmark / Norway)
28. Lello Esposito (Italy)
29. Chitra Ganesh (USA)
30. Gimhongsok (South Korea)
31. Agi Haines (UK)
32. Amanda Heng (Singapore)
33. Camille Henrot (France / USA)
34. Dusadee Huntrakul (Thailand)
35. AKI INOMATA (Japan)
36. Mella Jaarsma (The Netherlands / Indonesia)
37. George K. (India)
38. Anish Kapoor (UK)
39. Chitti Kasemkitvatana (Thailand)
40. Yanawit Kunchaethong (Thailand)
41. Cole Lu (Taiwan / USA)
42. Prasong Luemuang (Thailand)
43. Maria Madeira (Timor-Leste / Australia)
44. Zul Mahmod (Singapore)
45. Nakrob Moonmanas (Thailand)
46. Sophirat Muangkum (Thailand)
47. Kira O'Reilly (Ireland / Finland)
48. Bagus Pandega & Kei Imazu (Indonesia / Japan)
49. Mutmee Pimdao Panichsamai (Thailand)
50. Princess Marsi Paribatra (Thailand)
51. Pejvak Collective (Iran / Canada)
52. Bounpaul Phothyzan (Laos)
53. Deneth Piumakshi Veda Arachchige (Sri Lanka / France)
54. Abraham Poincheval (France)
55. Ravinder Reddy (India)
56. Lisa Reihana (New Zealand)
57. Taiki Sakpisit (Thailand)
58. Moe Satt (Myanmar / The Netherlands)
59. Thavika Savangwongsakul (Thailand)
60. Nuttapon Sawasdee (Thailand)
61. Jessica Segall (USA)
62. David Shongo and Filip Van Dingenen (Congo / Belgium)
63. Pim Sudhikam (Thailand)
64. Som Supaparinya (Thailand)
65. Tak Young-jun (South Korea)
66. Jedsada Tangtrakulwong (Thailand)
67. Latai Taumoepeau (Tonga / Australia)
68. Komkrit Tepthian (Thailand)
69. Tian Xiaolei (China)
70. Aleksandar Timotic (Serbia)
71. Jasmine Togo-Brisby (Australia)
72. Xiyao Wang (China)
73. Supawich Weesapen (Thailand)
74. WISHULADA (Thailand)
75. Pokchat Worasub (Thailand)
76. Mai Yamashita+Naoto Kobayashi (Japan)
In addition to the artists and collectives selected by Bangkok Art Biennale’s curatorial team, the Bangkok Art Biennale also showcases chosen applicants from the Open Call programme held from October–November 2023.
VENUES
BAB is pleased to announce that for its 2024 edition, two additional venues have been added, including Central World, a large retail multiplex, and Wat Bowonniwetwiharn Ratchaworawiharn, a major Buddhist temple in Bangkok. The full list of venues is as follows:
River Route
1. Temple of Dawn or Wat Arun
2. Temple of the Reclining Buddha or Wat Pho
3. Temple of Iron Fences or Wat Prayoon
4. Temple Bowon or Wat Bowonniwetwiharn Ratchaworawiharn
5. Museum Siam (National Discovery Museum Institute or NDMI)
6. National Gallery of Thailand
7. National Museum Bangkok, Siwamokhaphiman Hall
City Route
8. Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)
9. One Bangkok
10. Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), BAB BOX
11. Central World
SUPPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
THEME NURTURE GAIA
In Greek mythology, Gaia is a goddess who offers life and nourishment. She has evolved in many forms and is revered as a mother, nurturer and giver of life. References to her have been found in temples, shrines, statues and paintings. In prehistoric times, she was worshipped as the feminine earth mother related to fertility and agriculture; in Hinduism, she is the earth as a living organism and symbolised as Prithvi; in Southeast Asia, she takes on the form of Phra Mae Thorani found frequently in Buddhist scriptures and temple murals.
The ‘Gaia Hypothesis’ proposed that the earth is a living being that sustains life and has received much attention. With climate change, pandemics, war and the destruction of the environment caused by Homo sapiens, there is critical awareness that humanity, as an integral part of Earth, can no longer survive. When nature is defiled, people and animals suffer profoundly.
Scientists, environmentalists, sages and artists, including Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, James Lovestock, Bruno Latour, Jayasaro Bhikkhu and Sulak Sivalaksa, have discussed Gaia in the context of the earth as a living organism. Due to the lack of respect humans have for Gaia, the damage done to rainforests and the reduction of planetary biodiversity has resulted in global catastrophes.
The World Meteorological Organization recently announced the hottest summer months measured in Europe. In September 2023, United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres put the blame squarely on humans. “Scientists have long warned what our fossil addiction will unleash.” he said. “Our planet is imploding faster than we can cope with extreme weather events hitting every corner of our planet.” And added, “Surging temperatures demand a surge in action. Leaders must turn up the heat now for climate solutions.”
ABOUT BANGKOK ART BIENNALE (BAB)
Founded in 2017, Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) takes place in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Spanning various venues over a period of four months, BAB transforms the bustling city of Bangkok into a lively hub that celebrates art, creativity, and culture. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in contemporary art from a diverse range of contemporary artists, both local and international, throughout the city in art and cultural spaces, as well as in Bangkok’s iconic landmarks, temples and public spaces. In addition, BAB is accompanied by a rigorous programme of public events, including educational conferences, talks, hands-on workshops, guided visits, publications, and online programmes to ensure a memorable and educational experience for all. Moreover, BAB hosts a "DEK BAB" program, which gives opportunities for students and people interested in art to work at the major biennale with renowned Thai and international artists as artist crew, liaison, and docent.
ABOUT THAI BEVERAGE PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED (THAIBEV)
Thai Beverage Public Company Limited (‘ThaiBev,’ and together with its subsidiaries, the ‘Group’) is a leading beverage company in Southeast Asia and the largest in Thailand. The Group's vision is to be a world-class beverage company embodying commercial excellence, continuous product development and premiumization, as well as professionalism. ThaiBev's business consists of four segments – spirits, beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and food. ThaiBev has been the major supporter of Bangkok Art Biennale since 2018, and the company’s commitment to artistic innovation has transformed the Bangkok Art Biennale into a prominent platform for Thai and international artists and creators.
ABOUT THE TEAM
International Advisory Committee
• Marina Abramović
• Lito Camacho
• Kim Camacho
• Mami Kataoka
• Jean-Hubert Martin
• Qiu Zhijie
• Eugene Tan
Chief Executive and Artistic Director
• Prof. Dr. Apinan Poshyananda
Curatorial Team
• Prof. Dr. Apinan Poshyananda
• Pojai Akratanakul
• Dr. Brian Curtin
• Akiko Miki
• Dr. Paramaporn Sirikulchayanont
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