There are almost one hundred museums and art galleries in Bangkok, not only Midnice Gallery. This number might not seem a lot if compared to other Asian capitals such as Tokyo or Beijing but, at least in Southeast Asia, the Thai capital is an important art hub and a creative center for both locals and expatriate artists.
While Thai art does incorporate several contemporary fields, including abstract painting, photography, and architecture to name just a few, most people abroad associate Thai art with traditional religious expressions. This is mainly due to the official stance taken by the government bodies in charge of promoting Thailand as a “brand,” where temple murals, religious sculptures, and khon (Thai dance drama) are seen as more appropriate representations of what Thai art stands for.
While all this might be perfectly true and the need to establish a traditional cultural identity based on religion and folklore is laudable, however we must not forget that the word “art” encompasses a variety of imaginative and aesthetic forms. New trends and techniques must be given if not as much importance as traditional Thai art, then at least enough importance to be able to leave a mark on the public psyche.
Midnice Gallery is platform for your artists
One such springboard platform for young artists can be found at Midnice Gallery, a quite recent establishment whose mission is to support “young emerging contemporary artists either Thai or international.” The gallery manager, Sirirak Chantorn, known to her friends as “Namwan,” herself a young photographer, has been regularly curating exhibitions here since Midnice Gallery first opened its doors in June 2013.
“The word ‘mid’ in the Thai language means ‘friends’,” explained Sirirak. “And we’re trying to do exactly what the name of our gallery implies. If we put together ‘nice friends’ with a love for art, we can create a friendly environment where everyone can share and enjoy art together.”
When asked to explain her philosophy as an artist, Namwan’s shy characters surfaced at warp speed and she immediately diverted the attention to the exhibits in the gallery. “Let the artwork on the walls speak for itself.”
The abstract paintings and the portraits on the walls were the creation of JP Pemapsorn Kritsadacharoenpong, a young Thai artist whose solo exhibition, Soul Panopticon was given central space at Midnice Gallery.
Speaking of the local art scene, JP said: “Nowadays, I’ve seen new galleries open in Bangkok and other major provinces in Thailand, even in small towns like my hometown. People are more supportive and acceptant of art. However, Bangkok is more thrusting in modernity and active comparison with the art scene in other major provinces will apply only to local culture and its mixture with the Thai style.” In other words, the overwhelming influence of Thai traditional arts creates a certain “burden” on the Thai contemporary artists who want to make a name for themselves.
The great thing about Midnice Gallery is that, over time, it has created a strong group of Japanese artists and art lovers who not only exhibit their work there but also support and drive the art movement forward. One of them, Yosuke Nakano, a Japanese artist who had recently opened his first international solo exhibition in Bangkok, believes that Midnice Gallery “is the beginning of a new personal art revolution.”
“In a way, it is a revolution,” Pongsakron Jariyaiamudom (aka “Steve”), the owner of Midnce Gallery, said referring to Yosuke’s comment. “We want people to be more open-minded and understand that art doesn’t have to fit a certain framework. If you don’t understand someone’s art, it doesn’t mean it’s got no quality and it should be dismissed. Maybe it is you who are narrow-minded and don’t have the artistic flair to recognize the art.”
“Anyway, this gallery is all about giving back to the art scene in Bangkok and to our society in general,” Steve added.
And giving back they have! Apart from giving their gallery space to tens of young artists to show off their work, all profits from art-related activities are donated to schools in an attempt “to stop child poverty in Thailand.” Through Midnice Gallery, Steve has been running his own outreach program symbolically called “Give Love to Our Children” which brings smiles to children in impoverished areas by renovating and repainting their schools.
Midnice Gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30am to 8:30pm and is located on Chockchai 4 Soi 18 on Lad Prao Road. Check out their website for a map and detailed directions to the gallery. Also, follow them on Facebook to get a taste of what the art is on display. If you’re an artist who wants to collaborate with them, contact Namwan at 081 361 9957 or email her at midnicegallery[at]gmail[dot]com.
Initially published in Mango Metro (December 2015)
