In Venice, Su Xiaobai will fill a historic palazzo with works crafted in natural lacquer

Artist Su Xiaobai will present a major solo exhibition titled "Alchemical Universe" at the Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel as an official Collateral Event of the 61st Venice Biennale. Curated by Stephen Little of LACMA, the show features 35 works spanning two decades, highlighting Su’s transition from oil painting to the mastery of natural lacquer. The exhibition includes his latest series, "Niao Niao," which utilizes mineral and metallic powders to create monochromatic, ethereal surfaces that emphasize material spontaneity over rigid artistic control.

Art Gallery Shows in Bangkok to Check Out in May

A roundup of art gallery exhibitions in Bangkok for May 2026 highlights four shows: 'The Fourth Decade of the Bualuang Paintings' at The Queen's Gallery, featuring 141 works by 52 Thai artists from the Bualuang painting contests; 'New Beginning' at ART Space by MOCA Four Seasons, a group show with artists from Japan and Thailand exploring renewal; 'Museum of Monsters' at River City Bangkok, a solo exhibition by artist FAHFAHS (Napath Kuntaruck) confronting hidden memories; and 'Beneath the Horizon Line' at Art Jewel Gallery, Siam.

Asia's Biennials Survey: The Asia Pivot

asias biennials survey asia pivot

Asia is experiencing a significant surge in biennial exhibitions, with at least eight major events currently running from Singapore to Riyadh and several more scheduled for later this year. These large-scale exhibitions are increasingly serving as strategic tools for soft power, urban regeneration, and economic promotion, often backed by government funding to elevate a city's global profile.

burmese curator flees bangkok china censors art exhibition

The curator of an exhibition at the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre (BACC) fled Thailand two days after its opening, fearing arrest and deportation. The show, titled “Constellation of Complicity: Visualising the Global Machine of Authoritarian Solidarity,” featured exiled artists from China, Russia, Iran, and Myanmar and was curated by an artist from Myanmar known as Sai. After receiving warnings from BACC directors that Thai police were seeking his contact information, Sai learned that the Chinese embassy, Thai Foreign Ministry, and Bangkok city officials had pressured the museum over potential diplomatic tensions. The exhibition was censored: black paint covered artists' names and descriptions of Tibet, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang; a multimedia piece by Tibetan artist Tenzin Mingyur Paldron was nearly entirely removed; and flags representing Tibet and the Uyghur people were taken down. Sai immediately flew to London and plans to restage the exhibition elsewhere without censorship.

burmese artist sai exhibition bangkok arts cultural center

An art exhibition at the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre titled “Constellation of Complicity: Visualising the Global Machine of Authoritarian Solidarity” was censored after repeated visits by Chinese embassy representatives. The show, featuring exiled artists from China, Russia, Iran, and Burma, had black paint applied over artists' names and descriptions of homelands such as Tibet, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang. Works by Tibetan artist Tenzin Mingyur Paldron were particularly affected, with television screens showing her films switched off and Tibetan and Uyghur flags removed. Burmese artist Sai told BBC News that since the censorship, he and his wife fled to the UK to seek asylum.

Book Review: The Disoriented Garden... A Breath of Dream

A new book titled 'The Disoriented Garden... A Breath of Dream' has been published by the Jim Thompson Art Center to accompany Vietnamese artist Trương Công Tùng's 2024 solo exhibition. The volume, edited by Hùng Mạnh Dương, is a multilingual, multidisciplinary collection featuring poetry, myths, curatorial texts, and photographs that mirror the artist's exploration of nature, gardens, and spiritual cosmology through video, installation, and painting.

VISION brings 15 global artists to Siam Paragon’s new Art Jewel space

A new exhibition titled VISION has opened at the recently launched Art Jewel gallery space within Bangkok's Siam Paragon shopping mall. The show features works by fifteen artists from around the world, including notable figures like Japanese artist Kohei Nawa and Thai artist Pinaree Sanpitak, presenting a diverse range of contemporary art in a high-traffic commercial setting.

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre: a unique highlight of Thailand’s creative edge

The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) has established itself as the primary hub for contemporary art in Thailand's capital. Located at the Pathum Wan intersection, the facility features a distinctive circular design with a spiral walkway that hosts a diverse range of programming, including contemporary art exhibitions, music, theater, and film screenings.

South Korea’s first major LGBTQ exhibition gives voice to queer artists

The Art Sonje Centre in Seoul has launched "Spectrosynthesis Seoul," the first large-scale exhibition in South Korea dedicated to LGBTQ themes and queer artists. Featuring works by 74 artists and artist groups, the project was initiated by Patrick Sun of the Sunpride Foundation and curated by Sun-jung Kim and Yong-woo Lee. The exhibition marks a significant cultural milestone in a country often characterized by its rigid social traditions and conservative values.

Artist Flees Thailand After China Exerts Influence on Museum Exhibition

A Myanmar artist, Sai, has fled to the U.K. and is seeking asylum after Chinese officials pressured the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre to censor an exhibition on authoritarianism. The show, titled "Constellation of Complicity: Visualizing the Global Machine of Authoritarian Solidarity," included works by Tibetan, Uyghur, and Hong Kong artists. Following demands from the Chinese embassy, transmitted through Thai authorities, the center removed sensitive artworks, obscured artists' names, and covered flags and references to Tibet, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang. Sai and his wife, who co-curated the exhibition, were allegedly told Thai police were looking for them, though police denied this.

Thai Art Center Censors Exhibition After “Pressure” From China

The Bangkok Art and Culture Center (BACC) censored an exhibition titled 'Constellation of Complicity: Visualising the Global Machinery of Authoritarian Solidarity' after pressure from the Chinese Embassy in Thailand. Works by artists from Hong Kong, Tibet, and the Uyghur diaspora were blacked out or removed to avoid 'diplomatic tensions between Thailand and China.' The curators fled the country after Chinese officials and Thai police visited the museum. Affected artists include Doc Tenzin, Mukaddas Mijit, Clara Cheung, and Gun Cheng Yee Man, whose names were blacked out, along with Tibetan and Uyghur flags and a graphic comparing China to Israel.

Central Chidlom's 'Art Department' auction promises a new experience

The Art Auction Center is hosting a major auction titled "Art Department" at the Central Chidlom department store in Bangkok, featuring over 130 artworks. The event aims to democratize the auction experience by integrating masterpieces and contemporary works into a retail lifestyle setting, moving away from traditional, formal auction environments.

Serakai Studio unveils dreamedcore, a multi-sensorial exhibition exploring digital nostalgia in Hong Kong

Serakai Studio presents 'dreamedcore', its second exhibition at GOLD in Hong Kong's Wong Chuk Hang district, running from June 6 to August 1. Curated by Shirley Lau and Tobias Berge, the show blends an art exhibition, concept store, and runway format to explore digital-age nostalgia through the lens of 'dreamcore' aesthetics—drawing on 1990s and early 2000s visual textures. Featuring 22 emerging multi-disciplinary artists and creative practitioners from across Asia, including Li Shuang, Wong Ping, and Peng Ke, the exhibition is divided into two chapters: 'The Lure' and 'The Twist', with a central runway stage, ambient lighting, and a mini cinema screening a video by Wong Ping.

Night and Day — Thai and Norwegian street art collide in Bangkok

Thai street artist MUEBON (Danaiphat Lertputtarakarn) and Norwegian stencil artist Martin Whatson have opened a joint exhibition titled "Night and Day" at Sphere Gallery in Bangkok. The show, running from April 28 to May 12, 2026, features a collision of their distinct styles—MUEBON's playful, socially charged cartoon characters and Whatson's layered stencil work with a signature "decay" aesthetic—presented through graffiti, sculpture, and immersive installations. The project took two years to prepare, with the artists exchanging works across time zones in a process akin to sending letters.

Architects respond to "excess and demolition" at reuse exhibition in Mexico

Fifteen international architecture studios have created installations from reused building materials and found objects for the exhibition "Reuse: Architectures of Almost Nothing" at artspace Laguna in Mexico City during art week. The show, curated by Laguna's curatorial director María Muñoz and architect Edgar Rodríguez, features works made from windshields, tarps, barrels, and even a complete car, all arranged across the former factory space. Participating studios include Sam Chermayeff Office, Ex-Soup, Parabase, Bangkok Tokyo, and others, with each piece designed as an "architectural accessory" that resignifies a single object through redeployment.

A New Generation of Gallerists Is Redefining Artist Representation

A new generation of gallerists is rethinking traditional artist representation models, moving away from rigid exclusivity clauses and transactional relationships. Figures like Bryce Watanasoponwong of The Charoen AArt in Bangkok, Storm Ascher of Superposition, and Lorraine Han of Unveil Gallery are adopting flexible, collaborative approaches that reflect the realities of contemporary artists, who often juggle multiple roles and prefer non-exclusive arrangements. These gallerists emphasize open dialogue, shared responsibility, and long-term relationship-building over strict contracts, as seen in Ascher's seven-year support of artist Haleigh Nickerson, which culminated in a solo show at NADA New York 2025.

Probing the Intergalactic Art Installations of Thai Artist Torlarp “Hern” Larpjaroensook

Thai artist Torlarp “Hern” Larpjaroensook creates immersive sci-fi sculptures and installations using found and ready-made objects. His recent work 'Cosmos of Nostalgia' was displayed at the NTU Museum in Singapore from January to April 2026, part of a campus-wide exhibition featuring three Southeast Asian artists. Earlier notable works include 'U.S.O. – Unidentified Standing Object' (2018) at Subhashok The Arts Centre in Bangkok and 'Spiritual Spaceship' (2018) at the Bangkok Art Biennale, which explored the contrast between modern technology and traditional Thai spirituality.

inside french artist jehan legacs sci fi surrealist scenes

Artist Jehan Legac, originally from Paris and based in Bangkok, discusses his practice of oil painting and photorealistic surrealism in an interview. His work, which explores femininity, sensuality, and sci-fi or fantasy narratives, has been exhibited at Nave8 Gallery in Ibiza, Saba Gallery in Miami, and Chaiyos Gallery in Bangkok. Legac describes his creative process as a slow, intuitive dialogue with the medium, emphasizing patience and emotional depth over intellectual understanding.

Fractured Horizons Returns to NYCxDesign 2026 with Imaging After Images, Marking Its Second International Spotlight at the Festival

Fractured Horizons: Imaging After Images, the second edition of VSDesign's international exhibition series, returned to the NYCxDesign Festival in 2026, running for a week in New York. Organized by VSDesign in partnership with RAC Studio and Asia Design Week, the exhibition featured 60 works by artists and designers from across Asia and North America, spanning architecture, urbanism, product design, visual communication, and interactive media. The show explored how images no longer simply depict space but actively produce, operate, and regulate it, treating the image as a spatial mechanism rather than a neutral surface.

Heartware Store & Gallery’s Latest Pop-Up Is A Quirky Convenience Store-Themed Art Exhibition In Joo Chiat

Heartware Store & Gallery in Singapore's Joo Chiat district has launched "555 MART," a solo exhibition by Bangkok-based illustrator and graphic designer Nene (Nanthawan Jamsai). The gallery has been transformed into a neon-lit, immersive convenience store where everyday grocery items like cup noodles and canned sardines are reimagined through ballpoint pen sketches and vibrant Risograph printing. The show features a mock checkout belt and art displayed alongside groceries, blending a retail environment with a traditional gallery space.

Once taboo, now on view: Seoul debuts major queer art exhibition

Art Sonje Center in Seoul has launched "Spectrosynthesis Seoul," the first large-scale institutional exhibition in South Korea dedicated specifically to queer art. Organized in partnership with the Sunpride Foundation, the show features 74 international and Korean artists across two major sections, exploring themes of identity, sign language bias, and the historical queer spatiality of Seoul neighborhoods like Itaewon.

Three Cities of Art Exhibition at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre Reinterprets Dvaravati Aesthetics, Boosting Cultural Tourism Growth in Thailand

The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) is set to host "Three Cities of Art" from March 3 to 8, 2026, an exhibition that reimagines ancient Dvaravati aesthetics through contemporary art practices. The showcase features community-based and participatory art, blending historical sculpture and architectural influences with modern interpretations to create an immersive experience for visitors.

Art freedom under fire

The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) censored an exhibition titled 'Constellation of Complicity: Visualising the Global Machinery of Authoritarian Solidarity' after pressure from the Chinese embassy. The exhibition, which opened on July 24, featured works by exiled artists from Myanmar, Iran, Russia, and Syria exploring authoritarian alliances. Following a visit by Chinese embassy staff, several works were removed, including a multimedia installation by a Tibetan artist, and texts mentioning 'Hong Kong', 'Tibet', and 'Uyghur' were redacted. The curator, Sai, a Myanmar artist in exile, said the interference was not unexpected.

Chiang Mai, Bangkok transform into open-air galleries once again

The Galleries' Nights 2025 returns to Chiang Mai and Bangkok, transforming both cities into open-air galleries. The event, presented by the Embassy of France, will showcase over 200 artists across more than 80 galleries—Chiang Mai on November 1-2 and Bangkok on November 21-22. This 12th edition marks the 340th anniversary of Franco-Thai diplomatic relations and is adapted in tribute to HM Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother for her contributions to traditional arts and craftsmanship. The program highlights gender equality in the arts with support from the French organization Aware, and features free transport options including traditional red trucks in Chiang Mai and electric tuk-tuks in Bangkok. The closing ceremony will be held at Jim Thompson Art Center on November 23, with a performance by choreographer Jitti Chompee.

A Curator Flees Bangkok After China Deems His Art Show Too Provocative

A curator has fled Bangkok after China deemed his art exhibition too provocative, leading to threats and pressure that forced him to leave the country. The show, which featured works critical of Chinese authorities, sparked diplomatic tensions and raised concerns about censorship across borders.

How a Bangkok art show was censored following China's anger

Burmese artist Sai and his wife have fled to the UK to seek asylum after their exhibition at the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre was censored following complaints from Chinese embassy officials. The show, titled 'Constellation of Complicity: Visualising the Global Machine of Authoritarian Solidarity,' opened on 26 July 2025 and featured exiled artists from China, Russia, and Iran. Chinese representatives, accompanied by Bangkok city officials, demanded the removal of works by Tibetan, Uyghur, and Hong Kong artists, leading to the blacking out of artist names, removal of flags, and switching off of films. The couple alleges Thai police are looking for them, though police deny this.

Exclusive: Thai gallery removes China-focused artworks after 'pressure' from Beijing

A Thai gallery has removed artworks focused on China from its exhibition after reportedly facing pressure from Beijing. The pieces, which addressed sensitive political themes, were taken down following diplomatic or official intervention, according to the gallery's statement. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between artistic expression and geopolitical influence in Southeast Asia.

"Ganesha" Art Exhibition: 2 Artists, 2 PerspectivesExploring Beauty of Faith through Cracks and Passage of Time

Inspiration Space in Bangkok presents "Ganesha," a dual-artist exhibition running from 9 May to 5 July 2026, curated by Kullaya Kassakul. The show features paintings by Piya Charoenmuang, who created thousands of Ganesha works daily during the COVID-19 lockdown (2021–2024), exploring faith, success, and imperfection through mixed media and texture. It also includes a ceramic Ganesha sculpture by Yonkwan Thanyaset (Paint), fired at high temperatures and repaired with Kintsugi, highlighting cracks as beauty. The exhibition unfolds in two phases: Piya's paintings from 9 May, with the full ceramic installation joining from 6 June.

Bangkok's Streets Transform into Europe's Largest Open-Air Gallery

The article describes how Bangkok's streets have been transformed into what is being called Europe's largest open-air gallery. The transformation involves murals and street art installations across the city, turning public spaces into an expansive exhibition of visual art.

Warin Lab stages retrospective of 28 art exhibits

Warin Lab, a Bangkok-based art space, is staging a retrospective exhibition that brings together 28 of its past art exhibits. The show offers a comprehensive overview of the gallery's curatorial history, featuring works from various artists who have shown at the venue since its founding.