Before you do your rounds of Art Basel and other international art weeks taking place in the next month, Bangkok’s biggest art affairs should keep your schedule well packed. Here are some exciting exhibitions and festivals you can catch in May.
Street food carts turn into art
There’s still time to catch Lucy Sparrow’s playful installation at The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon, which turns street food carts into art. The British artist is famed for her shows which recreate supermarkets that are fully-stocked with hand-stitched felt consumer products. For her debut in Thailand, Lucy has taken a deep dive into traditional Thai flavors, filling the hotel’s lobby with food carts overflowing with every street food staple imaginable. Completely crafted from felt, snacks on display range from moo ping (grilled BBQ pork), Isan pork sausages, kanom krok (coconut rice pancakes) to tin boxes with sugary biscuits. All of her creations will, of course, be smiling at you in her cute, signature style. Until May 5, 2023
A festival in the Big Mango
For those who like to buy art as much as looking at it, don’t miss the third edition of Mango Art Festival. This year’s theme of “Rise” will highlight emerging independent artists across the Thai and international art landscape. River City Bangkok will be the venue of this year’s festival, which is divided into four zones: Gallery Zone, Independent Artists Zone, Product Design Zone and Art & Craft Zone. Besides shopping and business matching services for art buyers and art sellers, a lineup of music performances and talks will take place throughout the six days. Just in time before the Thai elections, one of the highlights of the festival is a platform for political parties to share their vision and policies on boosting the country’s creative economy. May 2-7, 2023
