Buddhist Art in Bangkok Art Biennale 2024
By Jennifer Teo
In late October, I made a trip to see Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB2024) with the title “Nurture Gaia”. I was particularly looking forward to seeing some artworks which elucidated the theme from Buddhist perspectives. We don’t often get to see those but as Buddhism is the predominant religion in Thailand, with at least 90% of the population practising it, I thought that there would be a relatively high chance of this official contemporary art festival featuring at least a handful of Buddhism-inspired work.
Here are 5 artworks in BAB2024 (with quoted texts from the exhibition labels):
In Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre
Still Life (2024) by Elmgreen & Dragset (Michael Elmgreen, b. 1961 Copenhagen, and Ingar Dragset, b. 1969, Trondheim. Lives and work in Berlin)
This artwork “appears to directly address the audience, appealing to us to do something. However, we cannot intervene and remain powerless”.
This artwork in its simplicity is both beautiful and heartbreaking.
Samsara (2024) by Prasong Luemuang (b. 1962, Lumpoon)
“Because of ignorance and not getting down to the facts of the Four Noble Truths, I and you all have to wander in the cycle of existence for such a long time” - I assume this unattributed quote, at the top of the text, is from the artist.
“The artist has increasingly focused on studying Buddhism, especially meditation practice… For the Samsara series, it conveys ferocity through the black and white. At the same time it contains subtelty with details hidden in every element. The concept is that all things, living beings, minds, and consciousness in this universe are born, lie, and die as in the circle of birth. Due to lust, clinging, ignorance and lack of awarenss or insight into reality, this circle will repeat endlessly. The practice of setting body, speech, and mind in their natural state will create morality, concentration, and wisdom that lead to cleanliness, brightness, and peace. This contributes to destroying the darkness of ignorance and getting free from all ties completely.”
I love these complex 200 x 1629 cm pen and pencil drawing which somehow remind me of MS Escher’s artworks which had no beginning/end.
In Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)
Breathing (2018-2024) by Choi Jeong Hwa (b. 1961, Seoul)
This artwork features colourful fruits, vegetables and a blooming lotus. The ‘Breathing Forest’ is a temple where “the audience is encouraged to be mindful of their inhalation and exhalation”.
This artwork is accessible and fun, and the blooming lotus is a surprising and grounding sight in front of BACC, at the corner of this very busy junction.
6 Thangkas by Nick Dudka (b. 1962, Dessau. Lives and works in Moscow)
The artist is “an internationally acclaimed Thangka artist who has pursued extensive studies in Buddhist art history and philosophy across Russia, Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal, and India”. Among the six thangkas is this one, Ferocious Palden Lhamo (2020), depicting “the only female deity among the powerful group of the Eight Dharma Protectors, and who, out of compassion, swallowed all she could of the world’s diseases”.
These thangkas are very intricate and beautiful.
In National Museum Bangkok
Fish, fire, fallout (2024) by Nakrob Moonmanas (b. 1990, Bangkok)
This artwork “merges the museum’s history with the concept of doomsday according to Traibhumikatha [an important Thai Theravada literary work] as well as environmental crises in this age of the Anthropocene through fish sculptures, ancient artefacts and mixed media”.
A captivating artwork, especially with the Animatronics fishes amidst historical artefacts. I wish the audience were provided with an English translation of the Thai text, which I assume is from the Traibhumikatha.
I didn’t have time to visit all the venues of BAB2024, which include several temples, so there might have been more Buddhist artworks. More information on BAB2024 can be found on their website.