(Photo: Unsplash / Braden Jarvis)
The much-anticipated list of the artists for the next edition of the Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) 2024 is a landmark event on the art calendar. Starting from October 25th, the fourth version of this distinguished biennale is expected to become a major cultural event; 45 artists from 28 countries are to perform. To emphasize the relevance to the international context, the event leaders mentioned for the first time that a quarter of the exhibited works would be premiered so that viewers would be introduced to formerly unknown stories in international art.
Notable Participants
Various artists are represented on the curated list, and each adds their unique viewpoint and medium to the biennale's theme. Notable participants include Algerian-French installation artist Adel Abdessemed, Italian ceramicist and visual artist Chiara Camoni, Singaporean time-based media artist Priyageetha Dia, and French-American multimedia artist Camille Henrot. South Korean sculptor Choi Jeong Hwa, Brooklyn-based artist Chitra Ganesh, Japanese multidisciplinary artist Aki Inomata, and Scandinavian sculptural duo Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset also feature prominently. Other distinguished artists add to the global representation, such as Hong Kong-based conceptual artist Isaac Chong Wai and New Zealand video artist Lisa Reihana.
The lineup also honors the legacies of prominent artists like French-American sculptor Louise Bourgeois, German artist Joseph Beuys, and Guerreiro do Divino Amor, who represented Switzerland at the most recent Venice Biennale.
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The theme for this year's biennale is 'Nurture Gaia', as it explores the interconnectedness between the feminity and nature. What was first unveiled in October last year as a theme encourages people to think and talk about caring for the planet with a 'feminine' touch, which signifies the caring ability of women in their various contexts - be it in the social or ecological.
Venues
This year's event will be spread across nine distinctive venues throughout Bangkok, ranging from local museums and galleries to a shopping mall and three historical heritage sites: the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun), the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), and the Temple of Iron Fences (Wat Prayoon). These places will be culturally significant, and the show will offer more excellent value to the audience by combining art with Thailand's past and religious sources.
Program Highlights
The Biennale's program includes not only exhibitions but also dynamic performances and symposiums. These events will highlight theatre performances such as Kira O'Reilly's and a theatrical drama by Amanda Coogan based on the deaf community. There will also be performances that highlight Choi Jeong Hwa's sculpture installation.
As the opening date approaches, audiences, spectators, and art lovers can expect a deep consideration of various modern-day topics from the positions of feminity and ecology while focusing on Bangkok's multicultural context. The next edition of the Bangkok Art Biennale will contribute to the enhancement of the art world as a whole; it is a way of creating an understanding between people through art.
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