The Space
It’s hard to imagine anything exciting going on above a 7-Eleven. But that will change once you’ve seen this spacious white loft with its sweeping river views. The man behind the 250-square-meter space is celebrated photographer James Nachtwey who has opened it up to host all manner of cultural events, whether it’s a dinner, exhibition or seminar. Also check out this weekend’s events: Art Party! (Feb 22) and Chiaroscuro /// M.M. Caravaggio (Feb 23).
Klong San Market (Above 7-Eleven), Charoen Nakhon, 081-814-2536. www.thespacebangkok.com
Chomp
New all-day dining venue Chomp is a good reason to visit the old town. Not only does it serve up burgers (from B200) featuring bread made in-house, steaks, shakes, cocktails and more simple bites from 8am-midnight, but the kid-friendly space also offers activities like jiu jitsu, yoga, Thai language lessons and some pretty intriguing art exhibitions.
Samsen Soi 1. 084-098-8633. Wed-Sun 9am-midnight; Mon 9am-midnight. www.facebook.com/chompcafe.
Soy Sauce Factory
Speedy Grandma’s Thomas Menard has teamed up with Vincent Sung (Eclectic Lab) to transform this warehouse in Chinatown into a new art studio. Promising a New York industrial loft vibe with light installations, DJ booths, pop-up bar kitchen, cyclorama on the second floor and a rooftop view of the canal, this latest Charoenkrung art spot looks set to become host to many gigs and parties. Judging by Duck & Noodle's "It's a Bad Idea" party on Friday night (Feb 21), this is one venue sure to pull in an eclectic crowd. Stay tuned to BK for more.
Charoenkrung Soi 24 , 081-301-2669. www.soysaucefactory.com
GOJA Cafe and Gallery
Nestled inside a sub soi off Sukhumvit Soi 71 (Behind MaxValu), just a few minutes' walk from BTS Phra Khanong, the new gallery is set in a renovated old shophouse boasting a clean and very cool Japanese feel. Its two plain white walls are lined with art pieces, while the minimally decked out venue also serves as a cafe with drip coffee and drinks for art enthusiasts to enjoy at the slender window-side counter. Currently on show is the street art exhibition Paintbox Vol. 1.
5/2 Soi Pridi Banomyong 3, www.facebook.com/gojaphrakanong. BTS Phra Khanong. Tue-Sun: 12am-9pm.
After relocating from Siam Sqaure, the new Whitespace Gallery has settled on the second floor of a building in Sala Daeng Soi 1. As the name suggests, the venue is little more than stark white walls and unfinished concrete floors. Curated by Maitree Siriboon, with occasional guest contributors, the gallery focuses on young emerging artists with more of an experimental, avant-garde leaning. On show now is the Holy Kitsch series by Pornwipa Suriyakarn.
1 Sala Daeng Soi 1, 02-235-2500. www.whitesp-cegallery.com. MRT Lumphini. Wed-Sun: noon-6pm.
Rekindling their shared love for design and architecture, the father and son behind cafe Cherubin renovated their building next door as a space for art. In all-white interior, Dot Art is home to the owners’ collection of wood carvings, furniture and ceramics, with occasional guest artists’ exhibition. And, yes, you can book to spend a night at this venue that doubles as a two-room boutique hotel.
5/1 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 089-223-1493. Tue-Sun: 11am-7pm.
Speedy Grandma
The blossoming art scene on Charoen Krung is in large part down to this quirky gallery which was founded by Lee Anantawat and Thomas Menard, who are always looking to keep things fresh. This renovated, raw-looking shophouse frequently hosts exhibitions from up and coming artists, talks and workshops, while it's also been the site of a guerilla flea market as well as experimental film screenings, like the current experimental film exhibition Knowledge is Everything. Special mention must be made of its launch parties--some of the most outrageous fun you can imagine having in a so-called "gallery."
672/50-52 Charoen Krung Soi 28, 089-508-3859. www.speedygrandma.com.
