Bangkok for the art lovers: Where to go, what to do in the Thai capital

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Other than local cuisine and culture, another thing worth exploring in Bangkok is its vibrant art scene!

BANGKOK, Thailand – When visiting another country, you’re bound to gravitate towards a specific aspect of its local culture. Take those traveling to Thailand for example. Food enthusiasts might flock to hawker stalls and night markets to experience local cuisine, while you might find history buffs lined up to see historical landmarks like Bangkok’s temples.

But another thing worth exploring in Thailand is Bangkok’s vibrant art scene. Art is quite literally everywhere in the Thai capital. You’ll see it in the installations along public transportation walkways, on the stickers stuck to bollards and street signs, and on the murals in malls.

Here’s a tried and tested list of places you might want to visit and activities you might want to do in Bangkok if you like art:

Get your portraits done at Jubu Chibi

Taking home a personalized piece of art is arguably one of the best ways to immortalize your trip abroad. I came across Jubu Chibi’s stall in Jodd Fairs Ratchada, and immediately knew I wanted to get a portrait done so I could have something to remember the trip beyond the photos I took on my camera.

I snapped a photo of myself on the spot, sent it to the artist, and she had my A6 portrait (priced at 100 baht) in about 30 minutes. I decided to get two more A5 portraits: one of me and my dad, and another of me and my dog — each one costing 280 baht.

A6 portraits are limited to one head for 100 baht, while A5 portraits — which have a starting price of 180 baht — will allow you to add more heads for 100 baht each. A4 portraits, meanwhile, start at 380 baht, with additional heads costing 100 baht each. You have the option to frame each portrait for an additional fee: 200 baht for A6 and A5, and 300 baht for A4.

Jubu Chibi has stalls in Jodd Fairs Ratchada and Asiatique The Riverfront. You can check their Instagram page for more details.

Go to art pop-ups in Soko Creative Space

During my visit to Thailand, I was able to catch artist nnene.iie’s print pop-up at Soko Creative Space in Sukhumvit 32. Numerous artists’ work were on display at the event, with merch like prints, stickers, pins, and keychains even being up for sale. I got to discover a lot of really talented artists whose work I otherwise wouldn’t have come across had it not been for the pop-up event.

Soko Creative Space regularly hosts similar art pop-ups and exhibits, which they post about on their Instagram page.

Visit these shops for art prints, stickers, and ceramics

The stores Another Story, Daddy and the Muscle Academy, and Frank!Garcon are havens for art made by Thai artists, with the shelves at these stores being lined with art prints, stickers, key chains, and even ceramics.

Risograph prints from Another Story and Frank Garcon in Bangkok

Frank!Garcon in particular carries most of the merch of Two in Row — a popular risograph illustration studio in Bangkok. Risograph is shaping up to be one of the trendiest art mediums in Thailand.

The same store also carries handcrafted ceramics like mugs, bowls, vases, gauntlets, and ring holders.

Another Story, meanwhile, carries merch by Bangkokian, a faux magazine that showcases Thai culture through art prints, stickers, t-shirts, notebooks, and more.

Frank!Garcon has branches in Siam Square Alley 2, Siam Center, and Empshere. Daddy and the Muscle Academy, meanwhile, has locations in Siamsquare Alley 2 (Daddy Stickerland), Emsphere (Daddy Motel), and Siam Center (Super Daddy). Another Story has one store in Emsphere.

Explore Talat Noi

Located right next to Chinatown, Talat Noi used to be a trading hub. Now, it’s regarded as one of Bangkok’s go-to neighborhoods for its picturesque murals and architecture that showcase both Thai and Chinese culture.

At the heart of the neighborhood, you’ll find a little art gallery and studio called SgetThai, whose owner sells detailed prints and postcards of Thai landmarks, so you can take home a piece of the country with you.

View art at MOCA Bangkok

Of course, you can never go wrong with a visit to an art museum like Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Bangkok. This five-floor museum boasts a massive collection of works that capture the history of Thailand’s art in the form of hundreds of paintings, sculptures, and installations, among others — making it a must-visit for any first-timer in Thailand.

The Old Man by Pradit Tungprasartwong at moca bangkok

As with any art museum, MOCA Bangkok regularly hosts temporary exhibits to spotlight specific artists’ work. You can find the schedules on their Instagram page.

Tickets for MOCA Bangkok cost 300 baht per head for the general public, while tickets for those with student IDs are priced at 120 baht. The museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm.

MOCA Bangkok is located at 499 Kamphaengphet 6 Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak. – Rappler.com

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