Best Bangkok Contemporary Art Galleries

Where to See and Buy Fine Thai Art

Jun 6, 2009

In Thailand, venues exhibiting works by the most talented Thai artists are few and scattered. Here's a cluster of Bangkok galleries that can be visited in a few hours.

Tourists who want to see work by today’s best Thai artists don’t have an easy time of it. There’s a lot of schlocky art for sale, especially in tourist areas. The much anticipated Bangkok Art and Culture Centre opened in 2008, but its purpose is still unclear.

In Bangkok, galleries are scattered and historically have been short-lived. Thai painters, sculptors, photographers and videomakers are partly to blame because few want to commit to a long-term exclusive relationship with a single dealer. Once they have a reputation and some acclaim, many artists prefer to sell directly to collectors at home and abroad. The situation seems to be improving, however, with some Bangkok galleries now more than a decade old. This walking tour in the Silom Road area is a stress-free way to see a thirteen galleries in a few hours. This is the first part. The second part of the tour, covering four galleries on Pan Road and near Sathorn Road, is here.

Silom Galleria's Nine Galleries

On the southeastern, riverside end of Silom Road, Silom Galleria looks like another soaring concrete office building. Built during the boom years of the 1990s, it was intended to be a central showcase for Thailand’s gem and jewelry industries. Some gem dealers and offices are still located here along with the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences. But much of the chilly, echoing space is vacant. Rental rates must be attractive because art galleries are taking over. With the recent move by Teo+Namfah from Sukhumvit Road, there are now nine galleries in the building. Expect more.

The quality of galleries here varies greatly. So do the artists exhibited and represented in the better ones. But since all the galleries are located on just two floors, it’s easy to take a peek in all of them. For those with little time, best bets are Soulflower, Tang, Teo+Namfah, and Thavibu. All these galleries have their own websites; search their names.

Most offices in this building are open Monday through Saturday, 11 am to 7 pm, so gallery hours pretty much follow that schedule with the addition of Sunday. Exceptions are noted below. The street address of Silom Galleria is 919/1 Silom Road. This is easy walking distance from the Surasak Skytrain stop on Sathorn Road as well as from such riverside hotels as the Oriental and Shangri-la. Here’s a map of the area and a photo of Silom Galleria

Artery Gallery

Asian Fine Arts

Gallery Soulflower

This gallery usually features painters from India and elsewhere in South Asia. However, a recent group show, “Dreaming in Public,” included contributions by two rising Thai stars: Jakkai Siributr, who’s noted for his work with fabrics, and Chiang Mai video-maker Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook.

Silom Galleria Art Space

Although young Thai painters are the usual focus, this gallery recently staged a group sculpture show.

The Gallery

Tang Contemporary Art

This Chinese-owned gallery shows mostly mainland Chinese artists. The Beijing branch is newer but based on the website, seems to be the primary one nowadays.

Teo+Namfah Gallery, Gossip Gallery

Teo + Namfah gallery recently moved from Silom Road to share quarters with Gossip Gallery. It also has a branch in Phnom Penh. Most of the dozen artists it exhibits are Thai, but there are also a few from other countries. They include two Mongolian painters, Munthsetseg Jalkhaajav and Monkhor Erdenebayar.

Thavibu

Having opened more than a decade ago, Thavibu is one of the oldest private galleries in Bangkok. The name refers to the Thai, Vietnamese and Burmese artists that it focuses on. It represents, not exclusively, a large number of artists, so ask to see their slides as well as what’s in the storeroom. Qualilty varies greatly here: from good stuff all the way down to the most conventional hotel room art. Vietnamese and Burmese artists are a better bet here, but some established Thai artists, such as Vasan Sitthiket, Therdkiat Wangwatcharakul, Jirapat Tatsanasomboon and Jakkai Siributr have exhibited here in the past.

From Silom Galleria, it's easy to visit a photography gallery, installations, and two galleries that focus on well-established painters. The directions begin here.

The copyright of the article Best Bangkok Contemporary Art Galleries in Thailand Travel is owned by Susan Cunningham. Permission to republish Best Bangkok Contemporary Art Galleries in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.