Eyes left for contemporary art

SATURDAY NIGHT Is destined to bring art into the lives of all Bangkokians as the city’s galleries open their doors from 7 ’til late in La Fete’s “Galleries Night”.
Organised for the first time last year by the French Embassy in an effort to mimic Paris’ dusk-to-dawn art happening “Nuit Blanche”, this year’s edition sees more than 30 galleries taking part, up from 18 in 2013, and the added pleasure of cocktails and snacks.
All the galleries are near Skytrain and subway stations and will stay open until midnight, hosting parties with music, dancing and, of course, artists. Most of the venues are in two areas – the Sathorn, Silom and Charoen Krung triangle and along Sukhumvit Road between Asoke and Ekamai.
Ten exhibition openings will take place simultaneously around 7pm with artists’ talks and receptions.
Before all that begins, Bangkok-based French artist Val will unveil her monumental sculpture “Fantastic City II” in front of Central Embassy at 6.
The official launch is being hosted at Alliance Francaise on Wireless Road at 6.30pm and includes an exhibition of works by students from French and Thai art schools.
Numthong Gallery cooperates with the Thaillywood Artist Residency in Chonburi for “Mixology”, an exhibition by 10 artists who completed the residency programme between 2012-2014 and who offer a wide range of media and subjects.
The artists taking part in the show are Alexandra Leyre Mein, Anthony Gripon, Jeanne Susplugas, Jiratchaya Pripwai, Laurent Pernot, Mimosa Echard, Ole Ukena, Simon Nicaise, Sudaporn Teja and Thibault de Gialluly.
Thai artist Montree Toemsombat introduces his collection “The Moonshine Hunter” at Toot Yung Art Centre from 7pm and Tada Hengsapkul follows up with some Isaan music. Sanit Suphab stages a morlam performance at 10pm and the event wraps with a set by DJ Masa.
Kathmandu Photography Gallery fetes the opening of French artist Elizabeth Preger’s conceptual photography “Here are my teeth: Black with stars”.
The Rooftop Gallery on Thonglor hosts French documentary photographer Christophe Loviny’s “Men in White”, an intimate portrait of life inside Lagrasse Abbey.
French-Chinese painter Ugo Li showcases “I Love You Too” at Le Meridien Hotel, while Frenchman Alexis Dubois makes his Thai debut at Soy Sauce Factory.
Speedy Grandma on Charoen Krung Soi 28 hosts “Heat Wave”, an ad-hoc art exhibition initially conceived by six young Thai artists suffering on a hot and humid afternoon by the Chao Phraya.
Thai abstract painter Wipoosana Supanakorn introduces his new collection “Intrepid” at La Lanta Fine Art on Sukhumvit 31 while neighbour Koi Gallery launches its new art space, just across from the old gallery, with a group show “Messages” by emerging artists Preecha Raksorn, Prab Panitroangkrai, Pannavit Pipatjirachod and Pachara Piyasongsoot.
Soy Sauce Factory is organising a bike tour departure from Alliance at 7 that will take cyclists to North Sathorn Road for the shows at Sofitel So Bangkok and Whitespace Gallery the on to to H Gallery, Kathmandu and Artery Gallery in and around Saladaeng.
The next stop is Charoen Krung Road to see the art at OP Garden Mall, Custom House and the nearby Artha, Modern, Serindia and Atta galleries.
From there it’s straight up Charoen Krung towards the General Post Office and to Yaowarat through Talad Noi to visit Speedy Grandma.
The two-hour tour will end at Soy Sauce Factory around 9pm for an after party.
These preferring not to pedal can take the BTS or subways. This year the French embassy has teamed up with Bangkok Art Map (BAM) to make 15 000 copies of the “Galleries’ Night” map. They’re available at participating galleries, arts and cultural centres, at TAT offices and various hotels.
The BAM suggests three “gallery-hopping routes” in three areas of Bangkok with a starting point for each of these areas: Alliance Francaise for the Lumpini/Siam area; Charoen Krung Soi 36/Rue de Brest for the Silom/Riverside; W District for Phrom Phong to Phra Khanong. Another starting point could be the Numthong Gallery in Soi Aree.
Gallery hoppers are also invited to take part in a photography contest by taking selfies in three different venues and posting them on social media to win prizes. Check out hastags #artselfie and #iamanartcritic.

On the Web:
www.LaFete-Bangkok.com
www.Facebook.com/galleriesnight