Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai co-artistic directors Rirkrit Tiravanija and Gridthiya Gaweewong revealed the second batch of 20 artists and also unveiled the brand-new pavilions that will be part of the upcoming art extravaganza.

Speaking at a recent press conference at Jim Thompson Art Center in Bangkok, the majyor international contemporary art festival will highlight artworks by 60 artists from 21 countries across Chiang Rai city and Chiang Saen’s Golden Triangle area from December 9, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

Initiated by the Culture Ministry’s Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, Thailand Biennale was launched in Krabi in 2018 before rotating to Nakhon Ratchasima in 2021. Chiang Rai is the third edition.

“Thailand Biennale will present our rich cultural heritage and contemporary art to the world. During the five-month festival, we hope tourists will visit Chiang Rai and the northern region to learn more about our art and culture. We expect to generate revenue for the tourism industry and art communities of some Bt500 million,” Culture Minister Itthiphol Khunpluem told the recent press conference.

Along with Rirkrit and Gridthiya, the curatorial team of Manuporn Luangaram and Angkrit Ajchariyasophon led international and Thai artists to visit various sites around the city to learn about and share their cultures and artistic practices with locals before creating their works.

“It’s important for the artists to visit the sites and learn about the cultural context. Like an open house, site visits offer opportunities for participating artists and locals to exchange their ideas and knowledge. The artists will then create their works in relation to the cultural context. It’s a key process in making the biennale interesting,” Rirkrit explained. The next step, he added, is the production process of new works and this will take place over the next three months.

Chiang Rai will come alive with several newly commissioned site-specific works on the theme “The Open World”, all created in relation to the context of this diverse city.

Located in Muang district, the main venues include the newly built Chiang Rai International Art Museum (CIAM), Wat Rong Khun or the White Temple of Chalermchai Kositpipat, Baan Dam Museum (Black House of the late Thawan Duchanee), Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, the Mekong Basin Civilization Museum, Rai Cherntawan Meditation Centre, Chiang Rai Train Library and Singh Park Chiang Rai.

In Chiang Saen district, the main sites are the Golden Triangle area, Wat Pa Sak and Chiang Saeng National Museum.

Gridthiya revealed that this edition will see the launch of brand-new pavilions alongside the main festival.

“We invited curators and artists from the local, regional and international scenes to present their pavilions. There will be more than 10 pavilions, among them the Korean Pavilion, MoMA Warsaw Pavilion, Production Zomia Pavilion, Sala MaPavilion, Phan Pavilion and International Watercolour Artists Group.”

Several educational programmes will also be held during the five-month festival in collaboration with local communities. These include seminars, film screenings, musical performances by multi-ethnic groups and an open house of local artisans.

Chiang Rai is home to hundreds of artists and artisans. Over 30 artist studios will be open to the public during the festival.

Among the headliners of the second batch are American artist Arto Lindsay, Nigerian-American Precious Okoyomon, French-Algerian artist Kader Attia, New York-based artist Maria Hassabi, Lebanese artist Terek Atoui and Hsu Chia-Wei from Taipei.

Participating Thai artists include Chitti Kasemkitvatana, Wit Pimkanchanapong, Wantanee Siripattananuntakul, Korakot Aromdee, Chata Maiwong and Sompong Sarasap. They will be joined by Boedi Widjaja and Zen Teh from Singapore, Hong Kong-based artist Movana Chen, Pangrok Sulap from Malaysia, Filipino Poklong Anading, Tayeba Begum Lipi from Bangladesh, Lao artist Tcheu Siong and Tuguldur Yondonjamts from Mongolia.

By Thai PBS World Feature Desk