What’s Trending And Happening This Week
1 The Bangkok Biennial has brought to town its fair share of exhibitions, as pavilions are dispersed throughout the city. Opening this weekend, the Supernatural Pavilion is taking place in Care Nang Leung temple with a performance and video installation The 5x5 Legged Stool, based on the 1962 dance score by Ann Halpin, The Five Legged Stool. In Bangkok, a new performance by Mari Fukutome comes to life, captured by video artist Chulayarnnon Siriphol, and explores the ways in which contemporary dance is recorded and archived in time. Viewers can visit the pavilion until tomorrow. Performances will take place at 8pm at Wat Care Nang Lerng, Phaniang Road, Khwaeng Wat Sommanat and Khet Pom Prap Sattru Phai.
2 Avid readers have only a few days left to dig through the piles of discounted English language books at the Big Bad Wolf book sale at Impact Forum. Over 3 million books were put on sale when the event began earlier this month, including best-sellers, fiction and science fiction, history, art and design books as well as a selection of children’s literature. The heavy sale — with 60-80% discount — along with 24-hour shopping not only provides an affordable opportunity to buy English-language books at a cheaper price in Thailand but also creates a fun experience. Browsing the sections at 2am and going home with a crate of books purchased at a sweet price only happens once a year.
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The A/PART exhibition, while announced at Bridge Artspace, is likely to be taking place off-site as well, with visitors invited to look across the street and river to catch sight of some of the artworks on Sathorn Unique. A/ PART features works by Torwong Wutthiwong, LIV_ID Collective, Prasert Yodkaew, Phornphop Sitthirak and Shan artist Sawangwongse Yawnghwe. On opening night, filmmaker Kevin McLeod will present his documentary on contemporary Myanmar, while performance artist Taweesak Molsawat will continue his series of art performances Body Politic, which he is taking across the city as a pavilion — called “A Pavilion Without A Pavilion” — for the Bangkok Biennial. Bridge Artspace is on Charoen Krung 51. For more information, contact bridgeartbkk@gmail.com or call 087-682-2221.
4 One of the United Kingdom and Europe’s most recognised DJs is coming to town this month. Jasper James, known for his freeform and dance floor friendly six-hour sets in London will be playing at Beam in Thong Lor on Friday beginning at 9pm. A date to mark in your calendars for sure. Emerging from his roots as a tastemaker in the Glasgow scene, Jasper James has toured locations such as Warehouse Project, Smart Bar, Lux, SubClub and held a yearlong residency at London’s Phonox in 2015. Tickets at BEAM at 72 Courtyard will be 300 baht (at the door), for a line-up that also includes DJ Sweed. To RSVP or for more information, call 02-392-7750.
5 While art is everywhere in Bangkok this season, Southeast Asian analysts have their eyes on another phenomenon across the region. The panel Playing The Identity Card In Southeast Asia? tomorrow invites speakers coming from civil society backgrounds in Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesia to reflect on identity politics in their respective countries, a trend that has gained significant importance when it comes to taking part in the electoral race and maintaining power. When elections are held, identity divisions have manifested, with discourses around “indigenousness”, “moral purity” or “homogeneity” at the cost of a constructed “other”. “Playing The Identity Card In Southeast Asia?” will be held at 5pm on Sunday at SEA Junction at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC).