Two new art institutions in Thailand

As reported in Stir World, the Bangkok Kunsthalle and the Khao Yai Art Forest in Thailand, both founded by philanthropist Marisa Chearavanont, are two new art institutions that focus on art as a mode of healing.

Both venues function organically as evolving spaces and continue to expand primarily through artist residencies and commissions. The Kunsthalle is located in a former printing house in Bangkok’s Chinatown, also known as Yaowarat. Damaged by fire in 2001, the approximately 8,000-square-metre building has not been significantly altered by the new owner and may resemble an artists' squat at first glance. Situated in a gentrifying neighbourhood, the Kunsthalle building's preservation itself is notable, as a tendency in Bangkok is to tear down old buildings, sometimes despite public outcry.

The Art Forest is nestled near Khao Yai National Park, a protected site inscribed on the UNESCO Natural World Heritage List since 2005. Located in the rural region of Isan, the site is a three-hour drive from the capital. Spanning around 85 hectares of paddy fields and hilly, wooded landscapes, the site is still in its first stage of development, with a quarter of it already dedicated to acquired and commissioned artworks.

Read the full article in Stir World here. 

Image: Andrea Rossetti; Courtesy of Khao Yai Art