13 emerging Thai artists you should know
Bangkok’s collectors, gallerists and curators recommend the names to watch in the upcoming generation of Thai artists.
8 years ago
Kawita Vatanajyankur
Age 29, Hometown Bangkok, Currently Resides in Bangkok
“Kawita is a video artist who was part of ‘Thailand Eye’ [contemporary art by Thai artists exhibited at Saatchi Gallery in London]. Her video works in that exhibition portrayed images of a woman [herself] doing mundane acts of housekeeping in a funny and sarcastic way, like tying herself upside down with her head swinging back and forth like a broom stick, expressing a message about the domestic roles women are forced into.” —Petch Osathanugrah
Chulayarnnon Siriphol
Age 30, Hometown Bangkok, Currently Resides in Bangkok
“Chulayarnnon is the golden boy of Bangkok’s independent film community. He’s been making films since he was in primary school and received lots of exposure to experimental films when he was young. This made him stand out from his generation of fimmakers and artists in Thailand. His works often make references to old Thai cinema, soap operas or famous Thai literature, using amateur actors and actresses to retell the stories.” —Gridthiya Gaweewong
Jirawut Ueasungkomsate
Age 30, Hometown Bangkok, Currently Resides in Bangkok
“Jirawut has admirable perseverance and a relentless intention to use his art to deliver messages about freedom in Thailand’s current political climate under military rule. He articulates the idea through his artwork in a way that is indirectly about the military, but rather with a focus on the importance of human rights and freedom. I believe good artists and art have the ability to deliver direct messages in indirect ways, such as this.” —Somrak Sila
Pamela Dimitrov
Age 22, Hometown Bangkok, Currently Resides in Bangkok
“A brilliant young photographer who's confident diversity is worth noting, including abstract photography. Her series 'Any Other (Thai Youth Undercurrent)' takes familiar postcard images of Thailand but renders them differently, more focused and contemplative than fleeting. This is usually the best any artist can do.” —Brian Curtin
Ram Kanjanavanit
Age 28, Hometown Bangkok, Currently Resides in New York
“Ram caught my attention with his exhibition ‘Burning Love,’ which captures seemingly ordinary images from the daily lives of a young couple’s relationship. He combines this minimal composition with a very technical color running method that allows the hues to drool into each other, an impressive skill that very much enhances the emotions being captured.” —Manit Sriwanichpoom
Korakrit Arunanonchai
Age 30, Hometown Bangkok, Currently Resides in Bangkok
“One of the most groundbreaking and interesting young Thai artists of this generation. People call him the ‘post-internet artist,’ or ‘denim painter,’ but I would call him the ‘boundary rider’ because his works touch upon the space in between many disciplines, media and worlds. He has a unique approach and understanding of what art is in the Thai and Western contexts, as well as the multilayers of reality that we face in today’s society.” —Gridthiya Gaweewong
Harit Srikhoa (Credit: Thunska P.)
Age 21, Hometown Bangkok, Currently Resides in Bangkok
“Harit has dreamed to be a professional photographer since the young age of 16. In his 2011 exhibition titled ‘Black Rites,’ which portrayed the daily lives of homeless children in Cambodia, he captured the beautifully tragic emotions of the scene in a way that was so filled with empathy and love. Similarly, in his 2012 series ‘Red Dream’ he managed to capture the fear and suspense of simply walking home alone at night during the 2010 military crackdown in Thailand. The emotions depicted in the photographs were so tangible, and not unlike reading a detailed written description of the experience.” —Manit Sriwanichpoom
Wantanee Siripattananuntakul
Age 42, Hometown Bangkok, Currently Resides in Bangkok
“Historical and cultural context is always very important when creating art. In Wantanee’s work, art is a platform in which she creates social commentary on what’s happening in Thailand’s political scene. The ability, and daringness, to do this with a modern twist is something worth keeping an eye on.” —Eric Booth
Dhanainun Dhanarachwattana (Credit: Soopakorn Srisakul)
Age 28, Hometown Bangkok, Currently Resides in Bangkok
“Dhanainun is a photographer who paradoxically captures the essence of Bangkok and Thailand by highlighting the country's lack of distinguishing characteristics. His images imbue very banal scenes of architecture and landscape with a strange sense of enigma.” —Brian Curtin
Piyarat Piyapongwiwat
Age 39, Hometown Bangkok, Currently Resides in Bangkok
“Piyarat is a rising star when it comes to conceptual and sociallyoriented art. She is a truly engaging artist and is getting international recognition at a very fast rate with recent exhibitions in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. —Myrtille Tibayrenc
“Socially and politically oriented, Piyarat is a young female artist who dares to express herself during a time of crisis in Thailand. Piyarat’s works consist of text and media which often raise critical questions regarding the current situation in our country.”
—Gridthiya Gaweewong
Tada Hengsapkul
Age 29, Hometown Nakorn Ratchasima, Currently Resides in Bangkok
“Tada has been exhibiting his work for some time now as a photographer, but it seems he is at an important turning point in his career. He is very multidisciplinary and his work is bound to get very surprising in the coming years. He is getting the attention of very established art events like the Kassel Documenta. I would definitely keep a close eye on what he is doing.” —Myrtille Tibayrenc
Tulapop Saenjaroen
Age 30, Hometown Chonburi, Currently Resides in Bangkok
“Tulapop is a brilliant young Thai conceptual artist who works using a wide variety of media. In some of his works, he uses humor to ambiguously challenge the importance of certain Thai cultural symbols and practices. This humor importantly distinguishes him from his Thai peers, who take themselves too seriously and make heavy-handed work that supports the polarized politics here.” —Brian Curtin
Sutthirat Supaparinya
Age 43, Hometown Chiang Mai, Currently Resides in Chiang Mai
“Sutthirat is a photo and video artist who’s currently having a solo show at Gallery Ver. Although I was not familiar with her work before, this exhibition is very strong. The title of the show is ‘10 Places in Tokyo’—a 10-channel video referencing the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and the more recent tsunami/Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster” —Petch Osathanugrah
The panelists
Brian Curtin
Curator of H Gallery and H Project Space
Eric Booth
Owner of Maiiam Contemporary Art Museum
Gridthiya Gaweewong
Curator of Jim Thompson Art Center
Myrtille TibayRenc
Owner of Toot Yung Gallery and co-founder of Bukruk Urban Arts Festival
Manit Sriwanichpoom
Contemporary photographer and owner of Kathmandu Gallery
Petch Osathanugrah
Owner of Bangkok University Gallery and chairman of Bangkok University
Somrak Sila
Curator of WTF Bar and Gallery
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