Getting Artsy in BKK

One thing I love about living in a big city like Bangkok is the art and culture. Bangkok may not have a huge art culture like in New York, but it's growing. In fact, the other week I visited not one but TWO art museums!

Bangkok Arts and Culture Center

First up was the Bangkok Art and Culture Center. This modern art museum has cool shops, cafes, and rotating galleries. The best part is, it's free to visit!

art museum downtown

Sadly, the museum has been having some money troubles, and the people of Bangkok are trying to band together to help support it. I did my part by spending an afternoon there.

outside MBK and the BACC

The other day, I went a little further afield to the large and impressive MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), which is a little harder to get to, since you have to take a taxi. I had seen it many times before on my way to the airport, but I finally had the chance to visit.

coffee shop at the Museum of Contemporary Art

This museum is all about modern art with a Thai twist... or, maybe Thai art with a modern twist. The artists used Thai motifs, patterns, and subjects in their work.

MOCA

The MOCA is dedicated to a man named Silpa Bhirasri. He is a beloved Thai artist who founded the well-respected Silpakorn University, which is famous for its art faculty. In fact, "Silpa" means something about art. Interestingly, there was a statue of him in front of the museum, and he didn't look Thai to me! In fact, he looked like a Westerner.

modern art in Bangkok

I did some research. It turns out that Mr. Silpa was in fact an Italian, born in Florence. He moved to Thailand in the 1930s, but when WWII broke out, he gave up his Italian citizenship and adopted a Thai name.

galactic hallway

The art at the MOCA was much grander than at the BACC, but also a little weirder. Well, it is modern art, after all! The art exhibits reminded me a lot of the stuff that I saw in Chiang Ria at the White Temple, Blue Temple, and Black House. In fact, there was an entire gallery dedicated to the artist who designed the Black House!

impressive contemporary Thai art

Outside, a huge statue of the Indian god Ganesha sits overlooking a reflecting pool. Ganesha is the patron of students, teachers, and artists, and is the symbol of Silpakorn University.

large Ganesha statue

even the spirit house holds a shrine to Ganesh