Bangkok (Lonely Planet) - Andrew Burke [17]
* * *
ART, DESIGN & FASHION IN TODAY’S BANGKOK Steven Pettifor
As Thai urban living becomes increasingly virtual, fast and disposable, the cultural layering that contributes to the 21st-century megalopolis that is Bangkok becomes more complex and global. Today’s cultural currents are as likely to be swayed by Korean soap operas, Japanese Manga comics, Chinese mass merchandising, European fashion and American street culture as traditional Thai life.
These influences are fuelling introspection among artists, with more art being created that pertains to the condition of the self and the societal constraints imposed upon it. Whereas a decade ago, artists seemed to be the defenders of a precious national identity, now themes have become more personal and reflective, as in the gender-explorative art of Pinaree Sanpitak, or young artist Maitree Siriboon’s identity-driven work. Though such approaches seem more aligned to the modern Western artist’s mindset, there remains an inextricable leaning towards a more spiritual, and ostensibly Buddhist, path.
Names Worth Knowing
In the contemporary scene Thai artists such as Surasri Kusolwong, Navin Rawanchaikul and Nipan Oraniwesna who utilise media, situational and process art, while still infusing elements perceived as Asian, have garnered the most prominent exposure on the international circuit.
Arguably one of the most sought-after artists by domestic collectors, the reclusive Chatchai Puipia creates figurative canvases that testify to the resilience of painting as a medium. His confrontational self-portraits are excavations of the self, yet they also reflect the tension and anxiety of a society uncertain of how to cope with its rapid modernisation.
Jakkai Siributr could be considered one of Thailand’s only contemporary fibre artists. With an approach more akin to an expressive painter, his coarsely stitched and dyed tapestries serve in part as a symbol of the futility of nostalgic living within the incessant flux of today’s world.
While the inevitability of death is a topic most of us prefer to avoid, Chiang Mai–based female artist Araya Rasdjarmreansook has made it her trademark. As someone who reads poems to, and plays dress up with actual human corpses, she could be regarded as somewhat maverick.
Best known for his crime-fighting superheroine character in the film Iron Pussy, Thai-American multidisciplinary artist Michael Shaowanasai conjures up mockingly camp, open-ended dialogues through outrageous performances, photography, video and installation to express notions of identity and sexual orientation.
A Tradition of Design
As with visual arts, one of the strongest attributes of Thai design is its sensibility of craftsmanship, which stems from its long tradition of skilled artisans. Invigorating ancient crafts with a modern veneer aimed at Western tastes, designers are now moving beyond emulation of pervasive trends as they tune into their own voices. A part of the 2009 Bangkok Design Festival (the third year of the burgeoning festival), product designer Krit Sangvichien’s exhibition Thainess was one attempt to define such attributes.
Apart from product design, there is a growing fascination by younger Thais with comics, cartoon art and animation. As with the rest of Asia, Thais are caught up in the recent wave of Japanese- and Korean-led Manga and anime, with Bangkok hosting its first ever Comic Con in early 2010. The trend has inspired artists like Wisut Ponnimit to blur art and animation, or young designer Estrella Montien to create her cartoon character Estrella – I Believe in Art.
Fashion Forward
Despite Bangkok slowly edging its way up the fashion rankings, the 2009 Elle Fashion Week, the city’s leading annual garment showcase, was more modest than in previous years. This was a reflection of economic belt-tightening rather than lost favour, yet leading designers Stretsis, Kloset, Nagara, Vatit Itthi and Kai were all strutting their stuff, along with sought-after newbie 27Friday and 27Nov.
However, as the West increasingly looks to