A YEAR IN ART

From the opening of Dib Bangkok to controversies of censorship and AI, experts reflect on the creative landscape

- STORY: SUWITCHA CHAIYONG

The exhibition 'Constellation Of Complicity: Visualising The Global Machinery Of Authoritarian Solidarity'.

(PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK.COM/BAANOUR.ART)

Since Thailand's art scene flourished this year, especially in Bangkok, city residents had access to a diverse range of art. As the year draws to an end, Life spoke with Sukontip Nakasem, founder of Warin Lab Contemporary & La Lanta Fine Art, and Voravuj Sujjaporamest, founder of VS Gallery, about highlights and significant art events that happened this year.

While Warin Lab Contemporary is renowned for presenting prevailing issues related to ecology and the environment, VS Gallery stands out for presenting issues related to marginalised people.

Both Sukontip and Voravuj agreed that Dib Bangkok, a contemporary art museum which opened in December, is a highlight of Thailand's art scene. Conceived by the late art collector and cultural patron Petch Osathanugrah, Dib Bangkok is set within what used to be a warehouse in the 1980s, but redesigned by Kulapat Yantrasast of Why Architecture. Located in the area between Rama IV and Sukhumvit 40, Dib Bangkok features 11 gallery spaces totalling 7,000m², a 1,400m² central courtyard, an outdoor sculpture zone and a spacious zone for hosting special events.

Voravuj explained that according to international museums, contemporary art refers to art that keeps pace with artistic advancements; it does not revert to imitate or reproduce works from previous decades. He commented that as Petch collected contemporary art, in compliance to international standards, this will help Thai visitors and collectors understand more about contemporary art.