Bangkok Biennial (the first of three art biennials scheduled for 2018) officially kicks off on Jul 1 in fittingly unconventional fashion. 

Taking place in the public area beneath the Rama 8 Bridge on the Thonburi side of the river, the opening ceremony will ditch many of the usual formalities in favor of a riverside aerobics session.

The event will open at 6pm with the playing of the national anthem, followed by short opening remarks, the exercise session and a ribbon cutting.  

Launching the night before, on Jun 30, are two of the biennial's opening events: the Speedy Grandma-presented Coop group exhibition on Phra Sumen Road and Cinema Taipei, a screening of Taiwanese contemporary art videos and films at Chinatown's Cho Why.

Setting itself apart from the other biennials, this anonymously-organized event will take a more underground approach, promising a lineup that brings together local artists Angkrit Ajchariyasophon and Mit Jai Inn, street artists TRK and Hideyuki Katsumata, and the forces behind underground art spaces like Bridge, Speedy Grandma and N22, all housed at 69 different “pavilions” spread throughout the city.

Bangkok Biennial runs from Jul 1-Sep 30. Check out the full list of participating artists and galleries at bangkokbiennial.com.