Founded in 2017, Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) is an art festival set in 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 2020, the Biennale expanded to virtual platforms to allow people from all over the world to view the exhibition online. In addition, BAB is accompanied by a rich programme of public events, including educational conferences, talks, hands-on workshops, guided visits, publications, and online programs to ensure a memorable and educational experience for all.
This edition’s theme CHAOS : CALM invites artists to contemplate the tumultuous conditions of the world around us as communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and grapple with urgent climate crises and socio-political uncertainties around the globe. By exploring the binary opposites of chaos and calm, the Biennale aims to reflect on the confusing world we live in and offer glimpses of hope through art; celebrating a diversity of identities, cultures, and histories, and mapping a shared vision for our new post-pandemic world.
Highlight presentations include a site-specific presentation of new sculptures by the British artist Antony Gormley in one of Bangkok’s most iconic heritage sites, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), the first presentation of Qatari-American artist and filmmaker Sophia Al-Maria in Thailand, as well as spotlights on important Thai artists Satu ≠ Padu Collaborative (also known as Prach Pimarnman), Kamin Lertchaiprasert, and Chitti Kasemkitvatana. In addition to the artists and collectives selected by BAB 2022’s curatorial team, the Bangkok Art Biennale also includes chosen applicants from the Open Call program that was launched in November 2021.
The second list of participating artists and collectives range from the emerging to the established, with representation from across Asia, Europe, Oceania, Africa and America, including:
Sophia Al-Maria (US / Qatar), APY Art Centre Collective (Australia), Wendimagegn Belete (Ethiopia), Stephanie Jane Burt (Singapore), Alicia Framis (Spain), Antony Gormley (UK), Damien Jalet and Gilles Delmas (France / Belgium), Chitti Kasemkitvatana (Thailand), Mari Katayama (Japan), Kamin Lertchaiprasert (Thailand), Marcello Maloberti (Italy), Jakrawal Nilthumrong (Thailand), Nengi Omuku (Nigeria), Mongkol Plienbangchang (Thailand), Tazeen Qayyum (Canada / Pakistan), Satu ≠ Padu Collaborative (Thailand), Timur Si-Qin (US / Germany), Maitree Siriboon (Thailand), Aor Nopawan Sirivejkul (Thailand), Kawita Vatanajyankur (Thailand), Pitchapa Wangprasertkul (Thailand), Yee l- Lann (Malaysia), and Vadim Zakharov (Russia).
“The Bangkok Art Biennale is a timely opportunity for us to collectively investigate and reconcile the theme of CHAOS : CALM through the exciting work of our selected artists to be presented in venues across the city. Our second artist list not only represents major international contemporary artists, including artists from Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa for the first time, but also introduces thought- leading Thai contemporary artists and collectives to offer diverse artistic perspectives towards a post- pandemic future,” comments Prof. Dr. Apinan Poshyananda, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the Bangkok Art Biennale.
In addition, BAB announces four additional venues have been added along the City Route including JWD Art Space, a fully inclusive art logistics and exhibition space; Samyan Mitrtown, a shopping and residential development; The PARQ, an innovative workplace and retail space which will house the BAB café in the Q Garden area; and The Prelude, One Bangkok, an art gallery situated in a developing lifestyle complex in Bangkok. *Please see Appendix B for the full venue list.
Organised in collaboration with Thai Beverage Public Company Limited (ThaiBev), and support from the public and private sectors, BAB 2022 CHAOS : CALM will commence from 22 October 2022 till 23 February 2023 at various locations across Bangkok, as well as in the BAB Virtual Venue, which will present a number of innovative artworks specifically created for the digital realm. (Via BAB 2022)
Curatorial Team
Nigel Hurst, Exhibitions Director, IMG
Loredana Pazzini-Paracciani, Independent Curator and Scholar of Southeast AsianContemporary Art
Jirat Ratthawongjirakul, Director of Gallery VER & Co-Founder of N22 Art Community, Bangkok
Dr. Chomwan Weeraworawit, Founder of Mysterious Ordinary, Bangkok and Co-Founder ofPhilip Huang, NYC
List of Artists
Marina Abramović (Serbia / USA)
Sophia Al-Maria (US / Qatar)
APY Art Centre Collective (Australia)
Wendimagegn Belete (Ethiopia)
Stephanie Jane Burt (Singapore)
Jake and Dinos Chapman aka “the Chapman Brothers” (UK)
Jarasporn Chumsri (Thailand)
Tiffany Chung (Vietnam / USA)
Alicia Framis (Spain)
Antony Gormley (UK)
Damien Jalet and Gilles Delmas (France / Belgium)
Jitish Kallat (India)
Chitti Kasemkitvatana (Thailand)
Mari Katayama (Japan)
Kimsooja (Republic of Korea / USA)
Rachel Kneebone (UK)
Kamin Lertchaiprasert (Thailand)
Marcello Maloberti (Italy)
Robert Mapplethorpe (USA)
Jakrawal Nilthumrong (Thailand)
Nawin Nuthong (Thailand)
Nengi Omuku (Nigeria)
Be Takerng Pattanopas (Thailand)
Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya (Thailand / Indonesia / USA)
Mongkol Plienbangchang (Thailand)
Tazeen Qayyum (Canada / Pakistan)
Alwin Reamillo (The Philippines)
Arin Rungjang (Thailand)
Pinaree Sanpitak (Thailand)
Satu ≠ Padu Collaborative (Thailand)
Chiharu Shiota (Japan)
Timur Si-Qin (US / Germany)
Wantanee Siripattananuntakul (Thailand)
Maitree Siriboon (Thailand)
Aor Nopawan Sirivejkul (Thailand)
Myrtille Tibayrenc (France)
Uninspired by Current Events (Thailand)
Kawita Vatanajyankur (Thailand)
Pitchapa Wangprasertkul (Thailand)
Xu Zhen (China)
Kennedy Yanko (USA)
Yee l-Lann (Malaysia)
Vadim Zakharov (Russia)
