Introduction
The Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) stands as Thailand's most significant international contemporary art festival, transforming the capital city into a vibrant platform for creative expression and cultural exchange. Established in 2018, this ambitious event has quickly earned recognition for its unique approach of integrating contemporary art into the city's sacred spaces, historic landmarks, and urban landscape.
What distinguishes the Bangkok Art Biennale is its bold juxtaposition of cutting-edge international art within centuries-old Buddhist temples, creating provocative dialogues between tradition and innovation. Unlike conventional biennales confined to white-cube galleries, BAB extends across Bangkok's diverse neighborhoods—from the historic riverside district to ultramodern shopping complexes and public parks—encouraging exploration of the city's rich cultural heritage through a contemporary lens.
Under the artistic direction of Prof. Dr. Apinan Poshyananda, former Permanent Secretary of Thailand's Ministry of Culture, the biennale brings together leading and emerging artists from Thailand, Southeast Asia, and around the world. This curatorial vision has positioned Bangkok as an increasingly important hub in the global contemporary art ecosystem, particularly for artists exploring the intersections of spirituality, tradition, ecology, and social change in rapidly evolving Asian contexts.
In the News
Current coverage of Bangkok Art Biennale
Sacred Intersections: How Bangkok Art Biennale Transformed Thailand's Temples into Contemporary Art Spaces
On a humid October morning in 2018, visitors to Wat Pho—Bangkok's centuries-old Temple of the Reclining Buddha—encountered something unprecedented among the gilded stupas and revered Buddha images. Danish-Argentinian artist Ugo Rondinone's aluminum cast olive tree, painted in vibrant white, stood in silent conversation with the ancient sacred architecture. Nearby, Thai artist Nino Sarabutra's delicate porcelain skulls, thousands of them, invited temple visitors to walk upon them—a physical meditation on impermanence within one of Thailand's most venerated Buddhist sanctuaries.
This audacious integration of contemporary art into active religious sites marked the beginning of what would become the Bangkok Art Biennale's most distinctive contribution to the global biennial landscape. While cities worldwide host contemporary art biennials in purpose-built galleries, converted industrial spaces, and public parks, Bangkok became the first to systematically incorporate active religious temples—places of daily worship and spiritual practice—into its exhibition framework.
"When we first proposed installing contemporary art in the temples, there was significant resistance," recalls Prof. Dr. Apinan Poshyananda, the biennale's Chief Executive and Artistic Director. "The temple committees, the religious authorities, even some artists were concerned about appropriateness, respect, and potential conflict. But we insisted that contemporary art could create meaningful dialogue with these sacred spaces without diminishing their spiritual significance."
This vision required delicate negotiation with multiple stakeholders. Buddhist temples in Thailand operate with considerable autonomy, each governed by its own committee and resident monks. Convincing these traditional institutions to participate meant addressing concerns about respect for sacred symbols, potential disruption to religious practices, and the theological implications of certain artistic expressions.
The breakthrough came through emphasizing conceptual alignment between contemporary art and Buddhist principles. "We focused on the shared concern with impermanence, interconnection, and questioning fixed perceptions of reality," explains Poshyananda. "These are core Buddhist concepts, but they're also central preoccupations of contemporary art. By highlighting these philosophical intersections, we helped the temple authorities see the potential for meaningful exchange rather than conflict."
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), with its iconic prang (spire) overlooking the Chao Phraya River, became another pivotal venue. During the inaugural biennale, Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara installed his contemplative "Puff Marshie" figure within the temple grounds, its serene expression and minimalist form creating an unexpected resonance with the ornate Thai Buddhist aesthetics surrounding it. French-Chinese artist Huang Yong Ping's massive aluminum sculpture "Zuo You He Che" (Left Right Crane Vehicles) occupied the landing pier, its twin crane vehicles suggesting both construction and destruction—a potent metaphor at the threshold between the sacred and secular worlds.
For participating artists, the temple context presented both inspiration and constraints. Unlike conventional gallery spaces, these venues came with physical limitations (no drilling into historic structures), cultural sensitivities (respect for Buddhist iconography), and practical considerations (accommodating daily religious activities). Yet many artists found these constraints creatively stimulating, forcing them to develop site-responsive works that engaged meaningfully with the spiritual and architectural context.
Marina Abramović, participating in the 2020 edition, created a video installation specifically for Wat Pho that explored connections between Buddhist meditation practices and her own performance methodologies. "Working within a living temple completely transforms how you think about your art," she noted. "It's not just a backdrop or a novel venue—it becomes a collaborator in the meaning-making. Your work enters a centuries-old conversation about transcendence, suffering, and enlightenment."
The public response to these sacred-contemporary intersections has evolved over successive biennials. Initial curiosity and occasional discomfort have given way to enthusiastic engagement. Local visitors, many of whom had limited exposure to contemporary art, discovered new ways of experiencing familiar religious spaces. International tourists gained deeper insight into Thai Buddhist philosophy through artistic interpretations. Perhaps most significantly, regular temple-goers and religious practitioners found contemporary art opening new dimensions of their spiritual experience.
"I've been coming to Wat Pho for morning prayers for thirty years," says Malee Chantawong, a 67-year-old Bangkok resident. "When they first brought these artworks here, I was skeptical. But over time, I've found that some pieces actually deepen my meditation practice. They make me see the temple differently—not just as a place of routine worship but as a living space where meaning continues to evolve."
This integration has influenced both the international art world and local cultural policy. Other Asian biennials have begun exploring collaborations with religious sites, though none as extensively as Bangkok. Within Thailand, the success of these temple partnerships has inspired new approaches to cultural heritage, moving beyond preservation toward a more dynamic model where ancient sites actively engage with contemporary creativity.
As Bangkok Art Biennale prepares for its fifth edition in 2025, with the theme "Fragile Equilibrium: Art in an Age of Uncertainty," the temple venues remain central to its identity. Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and Wat Prayoon will again host major installations, with several additional temples joining the exhibition map. New collaborations with Islamic mosques and Christian churches will extend the interfaith dialogue dimension.
"What began as an experiment has become our defining characteristic," reflects Poshyananda. "In a global biennial landscape where cities often struggle to differentiate themselves, Bangkok has established a unique position by embracing rather than separating its spiritual and artistic identities. The temples aren't just venues—they're the embodiment of our curatorial philosophy that art can and should engage with the deepest dimensions of human experience."
As the sun sets over Wat Arun's iconic spire, now complemented by a contemporary light installation, the blurred boundaries between ancient and modern, sacred and secular, tradition and innovation continue to define Bangkok Art Biennale's distinctive contribution to global cultural dialogue. In a world where contemporary art often occupies rarefied spaces separate from everyday life, Bangkok has discovered that sometimes the most powerful artistic experiences emerge when the new enters into conversation with the eternal.
Artistic Vision & Themes
Each edition of the Bangkok Art Biennale emerges from a carefully developed thematic framework that responds to contemporary global challenges while maintaining deep connections to Thai cultural contexts. The biennale has built its identity around exploring the intersections of spirituality, tradition, technology, and social change—themes that resonate particularly powerfully in Bangkok's rapidly transforming urban landscape.
The inaugural 2018 edition, "Beyond Bliss," examined diverse interpretations of happiness and well-being in an era of anxiety and uncertainty. This theme drew inspiration from Thailand's reputation as the "Land of Smiles" while questioning simplistic notions of contentment. The 2020 edition, "Escape Routes," responded to a world in crisis, exploring pathways through seemingly intractable global challenges from environmental degradation to political polarization.
The 2022 biennale, titled "CHAOS : CALM," directly addressed the turbulence of the pandemic era, presenting works that navigated the extremes of disorder and tranquility. This edition particularly emphasized meditative practices and healing modalities drawn from both Buddhist traditions and contemporary art methodologies. The 2024 edition, "Existence: Life Among Other Things," explored interconnections between human and non-human life forms, responding to ecological crises while drawing on Thai animist traditions and Buddhist perspectives on interdependence.
Looking ahead to 2025, "Fragile Equilibrium: Art in an Age of Uncertainty" will examine the precarious balance between competing forces in contemporary life—tradition and innovation, development and sustainability, individualism and community—during times of accelerating change. This theme particularly resonates in Thailand, where rapid modernization coexists with deep cultural continuity, creating productive tensions that the biennale aims to explore through artistic practice.
History & Context
The Bangkok Art Biennale emerged in 2018 at a pivotal moment for both Thailand's cultural landscape and the international biennial ecosystem. Founded by Thai businessman and art patron Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, CEO of ThaiBev (Thailand's largest beverage company), in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Apinan Poshyananda, the biennale represented Thailand's most ambitious entry into the global contemporary art circuit.
While Bangkok had long maintained a vibrant local art scene, with institutions like the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (established 2008) and commercial galleries concentrated in areas like Silom and Sukhumvit, the city lacked a recurring international platform that could place Thai contemporary art in dialogue with global practices. The biennale addressed this gap while simultaneously creating new contexts for international artists to engage with Thailand's unique cultural heritage.
The inaugural edition's success—attracting over 300,000 visitors—established Bangkok as an important new node in Asia's increasingly dense network of biennials and triennials. Coming after established events in Gwangju (1995), Shanghai (1996), and Singapore (2006), the Bangkok Art Biennale differentiated itself through its integration of sacred sites and its distinctly Thai approach to contemporary art's spiritual and philosophical dimensions.
Inaugural edition: "Beyond Bliss" featured 75 artists from 33 countries across 20 venues, introducing the signature temple venues and establishing the biennale's distinctive approach.
Second edition: "Escape Routes" navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, developing hybrid physical and digital presentations while expanding to include more riverside venues.
Third edition: "CHAOS : CALM" featured 73 artists across 12 venues, with a particular focus on healing and meditative practices in the aftermath of global pandemic disruptions.
Fourth edition: "Existence: Life Among Other Things" explored ecological interconnections with 65 artists across 10 venues, introducing new locations along the Chao Phraya River.
Fifth edition: "Fragile Equilibrium: Art in an Age of Uncertainty" will expand to include 75+ artists from over 30 countries, with significant international collaborations planned.
Through successive editions, the Bangkok Art Biennale has steadily built its international profile while deepening its engagement with local communities and cultural contexts. The biennale has played a significant role in Bangkok's cultural renaissance, complementing major infrastructure projects like the revival of the Creative District along the Chao Phraya River and the expansion of rapid transit systems that make the distributed exhibition model increasingly accessible to visitors.
From the Art World
Contemporary art news and visual culture from leading sources
Sources: Hyperallergic • ARTnews • This is Colossal
Exhibition Venues
The Bangkok Art Biennale's distinctive identity emerges from its integration of sacred, historic, and contemporary sites across Thailand's capital city. This distributed exhibition model transforms Bangkok itself into a canvas, encouraging visitors to explore different neighborhoods while experiencing the city's rich cultural heritage through a contemporary lens.
Sacred Spaces: Historic Buddhist temples (wats) serve as the biennale's most unique venues, creating provocative juxtapositions between contemporary art and ancient spiritual architecture. Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), and Wat Prayoon regularly host major installations, with artists responding sensitively to these active religious sites. These sacred venues create unique challenges and opportunities, requiring artists to respect religious protocols while engaging meaningfully with Buddhist traditions and iconography.
Cultural Institutions: The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) serves as the biennale's central hub, housing major exhibitions, educational programs, and visitor services. This contemporary arts center in the Pathumwan district provides conventional gallery spaces that complement the more unusual venues. Additional cultural venues include the historic East Asiatic Building on the riverfront, The Parq Museum, and the Jim Thompson Art Center.
Public and Commercial Spaces: The biennale extends into Bangkok's urban fabric through installations in shopping complexes like CentralWorld and One Bangkok, public parks including Lumpini and Benjakitti, and transportation hubs such as Hua Lamphong Railway Station. These locations bring contemporary art into everyday environments, reaching audiences who might not typically visit dedicated cultural institutions.
Riverside Locations: The Chao Phraya River, Bangkok's historic lifeblood, features prominently in the biennale's geography. Venues along the riverbanks include the historic warehouses at Warehouse 30, the River City Bangkok complex, and public piers and promenades where site-specific installations engage with Thailand's aquatic cultural heritage. Some editions have featured floating platforms and boat-based exhibitions that activate the river itself as an exhibition space.
Video Experience
Experience the unique atmosphere of the Bangkok Art Biennale through this curated tour of exhibitions in temples, galleries, and urban spaces across Thailand's vibrant capital city.
Video: Bangkok Art Biennale Exhibition Tour | Watch on YouTube
Venue Locations
The Bangkok Art Biennale takes place across multiple venues throughout the city, with concentrations along the Chao Phraya River, in the historic old town, and in the modern city center. This distributed exhibition model invites exploration of Bangkok's diverse neighborhoods and architectural heritage.
Bangkok Art Biennale Venues
Interactive map showing key exhibition locations across Bangkok
- Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) - 2 Sanamchai Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict
- Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) - 158 Wang Doem Road, Wat Arun
- Bangkok Art and Culture Centre - 939 Rama I Road, Pathumwan
- Warehouse 30 - 52-60 Captain Bush Lane, Bang Rak
- The PARQ - 1111 Ratchadaphisek Road, Klongtoey
- Lumpini Park - 192 Wireless Road, Pathumwan
Bangkok City Guide
Navigate Thailand's vibrant capital like a cultural insider with our curated guide to Bangkok's art districts, hidden galleries, and creative neighborhoods beyond the biennial venues.
Warehouse galleries along Charoen Krung
Trendy cafes and design studios
Thailand's largest private art collection
Traditional puppet theater on Khlong Bang Luang
Art Districts
- 📍 Charoen Krung: Historic riverside district with Warehouse 30 and numerous galleries
- 📍 Silom/Sathorn: Commercial galleries and international art spaces
- 📍 Sukhumvit: Contemporary galleries and design shops in Soi 55 (Thonglor)
- 📍 Talat Noi: Emerging arts neighborhood with street art and historic architecture
Getting Around
Bangkok's BTS Skytrain and MRT subway connect most biennial venues. For riverside locations, the Chao Phraya Express Boat provides scenic transportation. Grab (ride-hailing app) offers convenient door-to-door service between venues. During the biennale, special art shuttles connect major exhibition sites.