Healing with art

Vice Minister for Culture Wuttikorn Inthrapuvasak, was joined by Chai Nakornchai, director of the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, and the Culture Ministry’s deputy permanent-secretary Dr Apinan Poshyananda at the opening of contemporary art festival, “Heal the Arts, Help the Artists” last Friday at V64 Art Studio in Vibhavadi Soi 64.

The festival is hoping to raise funds to assist artists who suffered in last year’s floods. 

“The great flood caused damage to homes and businesses, including our historic and religious sites,” says Wuttikorn. “We are working to restore all of those but in the meantime Thais and foreign tourists can also enjoy a lot of art and cultural performances and exhibitions at this festival. I hope this festival will act as a model for other communities.”

Manop Meejamrat of Patravadi Theatre kicked off the entertainment with a contemporary art performance inspired by author Manus Junyong’s short story “Thon Kaen Nang Ram” (“Legend of the Drum”) before painter and national artist Chalermchai Kositpipat and V64 Art Studio’s director Kitti Narod joined together to create a painting as part of the opening ceremony.

Matthayom Sangkeet Wittaya Bangkok School’s chorus was next on stage, followed by a Thai puppet show from Kam-Nai of Klong Bang Luang while contemporary ensemble Boy Thai closed out the show. Other activities included a likay performance, magic show, workshop and concerts by artists from Smallroom, Makhampom, Madagascar, and blind artists Diamond.

More than 100 booths were manned by flood-affected artists and performers, all of them offering works of art at reasonable prices.

This festival is continuing until April 8 and is open Monday to Thursday from 6 to 10pm and from Friday to Sunday from 10am to 10pm. For more information, call (02) 973 2681-2.