Universes in Universe

For an optimal view of our website, please rotate your tablet horizontally.

1st Bangkok Art Biennale: Beyond Bliss

19 October 2018 - 3 February 2019

Chief Executive & Artistic Director: Apinan Poshyananda

Curatorial team: Luckana Kunavichayanont, Patrick D. Flores, Adele Tan, Sansern Milindasuta

Project Manager: Wutigorn Kongka


BAB 2018 represents an aspiration for Bangkok to be a major venue in the world of international contemporary art. With a strong collaboration from both the government and private sectors, the international art exhibition will take place at 20 venues across various well-known sites, including ancient temples along Bangkok’s principle river, the Chao Phraya River, historic architectural sites and iconic landmarks, and art and cultural institutions.

75 artists and groups from 34 countries (half of them from Thailand) are selected by international curatorial team.

Theme "Beyond Bliss"

Under the theme of Beyond Bliss, the artists are invited to create the art works under the concept and interpret the seemingly unattainable happiness in different ways. Creating the art piece at the historical, cultural and spiritual landmarks, representing the pursuit for happiness, both physical and mental, or finding the end of suffering. They also reflect social, political and environmental issues through the art works that have great impact to human happiness.

"We live in a present state of fear, protest and delusion. We invite our selected artists to comment on this lack of bliss. Which has been created due to political clashes, disease, pollution and migration. Bliss is a temporary and ephemeral experience, our artists will seek to interpret and capture different variants and intensity." said Prof. Dr. Apinan Poshyananda, Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Bangkok Art Biennale.

Curatorial team

Prof. Dr. Apinan Poshyananda
Bangkok Art Biennale Chief Executive & Artistic Director, and former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture (see the biography)

Luckana Kunavichayanont
Former Director of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)

Prof. Patrick D. Flores
Professor of Art Studies at the Department of Art Studies, University of the Philippines, and Curator of the Vargas Museum in Manila

Dr. Adele Tan
Senior Curator, National Gallery Singapore

Sansern Milindasuta
Assistant to the President for Academic Affairs, Bangkok and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)

Project Manager:
Assistant Prof. Wutigorn Kongka, Coordinator of Fine Arts Program, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang

International Advisers

Alexandra Munroe, Samsung Senior Curator, Asian Art, and Senior Advisor, Global Arts
David Stuart Elliott, British curator and writer
Dr. Eugene Tan, Director, National Gallery Singapore
Fumio Nanjo, Director of the Mori Art Museum
Nigel Hurst, CEO, Saatchi Gallery, London
Rirkrit Tiravanija, Artist
Sunjung Kim, President of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation

BAB 2018 Venues

- Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahaviharn (Temple of Dawn)
- Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
- Wat Prayurawongsawas Waraviharn (Temple of the Iron Fence)
- Bank of Thailand Learning Center (BOT)
- O.P. Place
- The Peninsula Bangkok Hotel
- Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
- The East Asiatic Company
- Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
- Skywalk
- Siam Discovery
- Siam Paragon
- Central World
- Central Embassy
- Nai Lert Park Heritage Home
- Alliance Française de Bangkok
- Benjasiri Park
- One Bangkok
- The EmQuartier
- Theatre of Indulgence

More in UiU:

From press information.
Images on top: Choi Jeong Hwa: Baskets Tower. Lee Bul: Diluvium. Hooptam Laos-Thai: The Adventure of Sinxay
© Courtesy of Bangkok Art Biennale


See also in UiU:

Back to Top