Internationally acclaimed artists Tobias Rehberger, Ernesto Neto, Haegue Yang, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Nguyen Trinh Thi, Baan Nok Collective and Navin Rawanchaikul are amongst the headliners of the Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai 2023. They were among the first 20 artists recently revealed by Culture Ministry at Wat Rong Khun or White Temple, a famous tourist destination in Chiang Rai, during the press conference held on March 25.

Co-hosted by the Culture Ministry’s Office of Contemporary Art and Culture and Chiang Rai province with a budget of Bt153 million, the Thailand Biennale 2023 aims to turn the Northern city into an international art and culture hub as well as a tourist destination stimulated by this international contemporary art festival.

The 3rd edition of the Biennale will feature works by 60 artists from 25 countries and will be held across many sites in Chiang Rai and Chiang Saen’s Golden Triangle area from December 9, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

The first and second editions held in Krabi in 2018 and Nakhon Ratchasima in 2021 helped boost tourism and stimulate the local art scenes.

“We aim to use this international contemporary art festival as a ‘soft power’ to generate income for the locals and boost tourism. We expect to create more than 8,000 jobs and earn about Bt30 billion from tourism during the four-month festival,” said Culture Minister Itthiphol Khunpluem.

This year’s curatorial team will be headed by co-artistic directors Rirkrit Tiravanija and Gridthiya Gaweewong with curators Angkrit Ajchariyasophon and Manuporn Luengaram. The curatorial team was inspired by their research trips around this ancient city with its diverse cultures and complex history and found it perfect for the theme “The Open World”.

“The theme takes its name from the Buddha image enshrined in Wat Pa Sak in Chiang Saen built in 1295, one of the most important ancient sites in Chiang Rai. The posture of the Buddha standing with his hands open on the sides represents wisdom and awakening as Lord Buddha descends from Tavatimsa Heaven to perform a miracle of revelation. With his power, he opens the three worlds – the god world, the underworld, and the human world so that they can see one another,” Gridthiya explained.

Through this theme, Thailand Biennale 2023 aims to “open up” the world of visitors and their perceptions of art using references to local history, and engage them with contemporary global issues.

“The Open World” also signifies the importance of learning from the past through the complex history of Chiang Rai. The present-day Lanna traditions and cultural heritage of the city as seen in architecture, culture, craftsmanship, storytelling, beliefs, multi-cultural dimensions, and the ecology all originated from ancient kingdoms.

Moreover, Chiang Rai’s art scene is strong thanks to its local artists’ association Art Bridge or Krua Silpa, which has more than 300 Chiang Rai artist members. The city is also home to some 60 artist studios.

National artist Charoemchai Kositpipat with support from a local businessman raised over Bt45 million to build a new museum in the heart of the city for exhibiting artwork at the biennale.

Located on 20 rai of land, the two-storey museum will have several galleries spread over 1,500 square metres of floor space. Construction is now well underway and will be ready for the opening of the biennale in December.

“Thailand Biennial 2023 will be the artistic platform for local and global artists to learn and share their art practices together. In addition, driven by the dynamic contemporary art and culture here, the biennale will open up our region to the world,” said Rirkrit,

Other artists participating in the 3rd edition are Indonesian Citra Sasmita, Singaporean Ho Tzu Nyen, Taiwanese Michael Lin, Japanese Ryusuke Kido and two Myanmar artists, Sawangwongse Yawnghwe and Soe Yu Nwe.

Artists from Thailand include All(zone), Sriwan Janehuttakarnkit, Nipan Oranniwesna, Busui Ajaw, Sanitas Pradittasnee, Kamonlak Sukchai, and Roongroj Paimyossak.

Photos courtesy of the Culture Ministry’s Office of Contemporary Art and Culture