Technique & medium: Molded plaster, documentary, installation.

Why Longing for Siam, Inventing Thailand?
This exhibition reflects on the history of our country, focusing on the period between 1932-1937 when the government was trying to “invent” Thailand and build its identity. It was a time where there were a lot of changes, and what Thailand is now is a result of those changes.

Can you tell us about this piece?
It’s an installation set in a dark room containing rows of 600 soldier figures made from plaster. The soldiers are facing a screen showing an animation featuring a revolution of Thailand map and how our forefathers migrated here. The viewers are not allowed to enter the room, though. They peek through the purpose-built holes.

And what’s the message here?
The dark room can be likened to one’s experience at the cinema, but at the same time, the fact that they’re not allowed inside the room will remind them that they can look back to the past, but they can’t change it. The holes are put at different angles to provide the viewers with different perspectives.

So it’s slightly political? It is political, but not intended to critique the May protests or the ongoing political strife. It’s essentially a nostalgic flashback to our country’s patriotic past.

What else can we expect to see at the exhibition?
You will get to see propaganda messages and slogans which aimed to instill civilization in the Thai people in those days by encouraging them to wear hats. I’ll also be doing some live drawings as well.

Keeping up with Siamese Map/Thai at Longing for Siam, Inventing Thailand exhibition

Est. 33

Bldg. E, Crystal Design Center, 1420/1 Praditmanoontham Rd. 02-102-2096. www.est-33.com. Open daily 11am-midnight
Est. 33 is what you get when you combine an old-school label like Singha with the forward-thinking brains of the folks behind Minibar Royale. It’s for the young and hip crowd, the kind of crowd who shop at the far-flung Crystal Design Center. Stop here for glasses of original, microbrewed beers. Sit at the bar and see it being brewed right in front of you (try Est. 33 Shandy, B150, and Fire Drop, B180), or opt for the pier-like outdoor space, perfect for people watching and catching the suburban breeze.

Club Culture

Ratchadamnoen Klang Rd., 08-9497-8422. Open Wed-Sat 7pm-2am. www.club-culture-bkk.com
Indie kids were devastated when Club Culture, home to the city’s party collectives like CMYK, Club Soma and Trasher, shut down at the end of last year. A few months later, however, the place re-opened on Ratchadamnoen, in a massive four-story warehouse-like space akin to a criminal’s lair. Club Culture may not win any design prizes, but its raw and edgy vibe makes it a favorite spot for hipsters and people looking for an alternative scene.

Hyde and Seek

Athenee Residence, 65/1 Soi Ruam Ruedee, 02-168-5152-3. Open daily 5pm-1am
The folks behind Flow ensure that this GQ-esque hangout for the young and hi-so is strong on the cocktails front (Ian Kittichai is behind the food). In addition to their usual drinks list, they do 11 new cocktails every month and even dedicate entire months to flights of single liquors like whiskey, rum and vodka. Definitely a spot to be seen at and get liquored up before hitting the clubs.

Cocktail

Mansion 7, 244/7 Ratchadaphisek Rd., 02-275-0779. Open daily noon-midnight
Set in Ratchada’s latest retail playground Mansion 7, Cocktail gets kudos for bringing a slice of sophistication to the massage parlor-ridden neighborhood. The bar strikes a rare balance of edginess and elegance, thanks to the dramatic high ceiling and spiral stairs which somehow complement industrial elements like bare cement and metal frames. We hate to state the obvious, but don’t leave here without sampling their cocktails, whipped out to suit your current mood by a resident mixologist.

WTF Bar & Gallery

7 Sukhumvit Soi 51 ,02-662-6246. Open Tue-Sun 6pm-1am. BTS Thong Lo. www.wtfbangkok.com
Tucked inside a narrow lane off Sukhumvit Soi 51, WTF is a cool, intimate spot favored and frequented by unpretentious hipsters. The ground floor of this retro shophouse sees a small corner bar with retro touches like old movie posters, an old-school bench seat and flowery tiles. We particularly dig their inventive cocktails (try the absinthe-infused Van Gogh, B200) and the lack of popsanova). Head there early to ensure a table if you’re too self-conscious to stand around.
 

Technique & medium: Interactive installation.

Why hybrid technology?
The name actually refers to the fusion of technology. I’m very interested in energy and electrical power. Technology makes things very convenient, so we tend to take it for granted.

What inspired you?
I want the viewers to start noticing things in their everyday life, take a close look at them and see how they function. Hence, all of the art pieces in this exhibition consist of many parts and employ several mechanisms. They’re all interactive.

Can you tell us about this piece?
This installation is modeled after a living room. What’s special about it, however, is that the sofa is wired to the chandelier made out of gas pumps. You can activate the chandelier by sitting on the sofa. The harder you bounce on it, the brighter the light gets. It goes to show that it takes effort to acquire energy.

Your works have always been interactive, why’s that?
Art should be fun and dynamic. It should enable the viewers to reflect on a certain thing by allowing them to get involved and interact with the piece. A metaphor is also easier to convey through this device. In this exhibition, you’ll get to interact with a car without an engine, a blender and an oil tank filled with water.

What’s next for you?
I’ll continue to focus on the issue of energy and power. And of course, they’ll be interactive!

Keeping up with Porntaweesak Rimsakul at Hybrid Technology

Can you tell us about Paradigm Paradise!!?
This production is part of the Mekong Creative Communities Arts for Advocacy Fellowship Project. It’s an autobiographical piece, which incorporates a play and dance. I’ll be performing solo throughout.

What does Khandha Arts’n Theatre Company do?
Apart from putting on stage productions and offering acting workshops, we also organize a series of self-improvement workshops. We believe that theater is a two-way form of communication. It’s not just about teaching or self-expressing, it’s also about sharing with our audience and learning from them. Our last workshop focused on the act of hugging. We helped people conquer the fear of hugging, which in turns helps with all kinds of relationships from families to couples.

How much of butoh is integrated in this production?
When we were first developing this production, I was torn between developing it into a full-on butoh performance and a scripted play. However, as a trained butoh artist, I know that butoh only aims at the viewers’ subconscious. Since this production is essentially the story of my life, I only employ a limited amount of what I call pure butoh to make it easier to follow. You’ll also see simplified butoh in places, too.

You opened your show in Chiang Mai, how’d that go?
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The show was in Thai, but there were a lot of foreigners who came to see it and were able to understand it. They came up to me after the show and told me how powerful it was and how they could relate their stories to mine. Some even cried!

Catch Paradigm Paradise at Patravadi Theater

Technique & medium: Drawing, ink on paper.

What are the thoughts behind this exhibition? I use art therapeutically and I find that creating art helps me to relax, even though there’s so much concentrating going on. Lyrics of Lines is a direct result of my meditative journey. It may sound a bit religious, but to me it’s a therapy which brings me serenity.

Can you tell us about the Young Program and how do you get involved with it? P’Fon [Sukontip Ostick, founder of La Lanta Fine Arts] came up with this campaign to support and promote young local artists. She saw my work and really liked it, so she wanted me to be the inaugural artist for this program.

Why do you find lines so appealing? Lines are the most basic form of art. It’s very pure and organic because you use your hand and a pen to create a line. I am moved by their fluidity and simplicity, which, to me, is beauty.

How did you achieve this stunning pattern effect? The fabric-like patterns are purely accidental. I never really noticed it until all the pieces are complete. However, it’s important to remember that these works are intended to be abstract. They are not meant to convey anything in particular. It’s only the process of creating them that I pay attention to.

Follow up the Inspired by the fluid quality of lines at Lyrics of Lines

How did you become VIVA!?
Thanote: The band is the brainchild of Colin Law and Eugene Eustaquio, our producer and musical director. All of us came from an audition organized by them.

What exactly is pop opera?
Eugene: When we mention opera, people tend to think of a powerful vocal, which is not the case here. Pop opera is what we use to describe a high-class and unique way of singing and representing the songs. And it indicates that the singers are classically trained.

You all come from a similar musical background. What’s it like working together?
Salith: Sharing the same classical background really helps because everyone shares the same passion and knows what they’re doing. Most of us already know each other from before, which also makes it easy to work together.

Any challenges?
Kamonporn: As classical singers, we’re not really used to singing with a microphone. That’s one thing we have to work on. Then there’s the pronunciation since we have to sing in different languages. Also, each one of us has had to adjust in order to harmonize. There are five of us and it’s easy to fall out of sync!

What sort of repertoire can we expect at your show?
Fueanglada: We’ll be performing pretty much everything from pop to rock, not just classical. So don’t be surprised if you hear us sing stuff from Queen.

Will you be performing any Thai songs?
Tulanan: Yes, we’ll be doing our own rendition of “Season Change” by Boyd Kosiyapong. We can’t really tell you the rest though!

Who picks the songs for you guys to cover?
Salith: Our producer gave us a selection of songs he thought we would be great at covering. All the songs are pretty well-known so we’re confident that the audience will enjoy them.

When can we expect your debut album?
Fueanglada: It should be done early next year, around January.

Catch Viva! at Dr. Thaworn Phornprapha Auditorium
Siam Motors Building.