Bangkok Art Biennale 2024 Reveals Artist Lineup

On July 4, the Bangkok Art Biennale announced the 45 local and international artists set to participate in its fourth edition, themed “Nurture Gaia,” which is slated to run from October 24, 2024 to February 25, 2025.

With a curatorial team led by chief executive and artistic director Apinan Poshyananda, the Biennale will showcase a diverse array of paintings, drawings, video works, sculptures, and installations by both established and emerging artists, a quarter of whom will be exhibited for the first time. Hailing from 28 countries, the roster of participating artists includes Algerian-French installation artist Adel Abdessemed, Singaporean new media artist Priyageetha Dia, Scandinavian sculptural artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset, Brooklyn-based artist Chitra Ganesh, Thai ceramicist Dusadee Huntrakul, Japanese sculptor AKI INOMATA, and Māori artist Lisa Reihana, among others.

The Biennale has also unveiled its program for Vernissage week, encompassing a series of performances and symposiums. Highlights include a performance piece by Irish-born, Helsinki-based artist Kira O’Reilly, who reimagines menopause as a utopian experience; a theatrical piece by Dublin-based performer Amanda Coogan, celebrating the dynamism of the deaf community through sign language; a video installation by Berlin- and Hong Kong-based conceptual artist Isaac Chong Wai, investigating the dynamics of collective body interactions; and vibrant, technicolor sculptures by Seoul-based designer Choi Jeong Hwa will be displayed at various venues across the Biennale.

The Biennale’s theme, which was announced in October 2023, draws inspiration from the ancient personification of Mother Earth, symbolizing growth and new life within various cultures. Rooted in the Gaia Hypothesis, which posits that the Earth operates as a living organism sustaining both organic and inorganic life, the exhibition will delve into scientific theories and philosophies such as ecology, anthropology, collectivism, and eco-social politics. To complement these themes the Biennale will be hosted across nine historic landmarks and public spaces, including ancient heritage sites such as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and the Temple of Dawn, Museum Siam in Bangkok's historic Phra Nakhon District, as well as various art galleries located throughout the city.

Founded in 2017, the Bangkok Art Biennale is one of Thailand’s largest contemporary art events, transforming the capital city into a center of art, creativity, and culture over a period of four months.

Mioie Kwok is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.