Thanks to the Bukruk Urban Arts Festival in 2013 and 2016, a collaboration between 11 Thai and 16 European street artists invaded the CREATIVE DISTRICT of Bangkok.
(Bukruk translates to ‘invasion’)
Street Art suddenly became popular and the artists responsible for it are steadily making their way into galleries all over the world!
Two Thai street artists became internationally known after participating in this festival—Patcharapol Tangruen aka Alex Face and Danaiphat Lersputtitrakan aka Bon. Both have received international attention for their successful exhibit at the Frieze London Art Fair in 2013 and have subsequently held exhibitions in local art galleries. All of the foreign and many of the Thai artists had established reputations already.
Collectibles Corner (in the white art deco Chavanich Building at WAREHOUSE 30) has had a bird’s eye view of Bukruk activities taking place next door. The fact is that the original Bukruk street art (on walls behind stalls in busy market areas) is not being repaired or touched up and has started to fade. During this COVID 19 shutdown I want to make a record of what was created in nearby lanes (Soi 30, Soi 32 and Soi 28) before it gets damaged or even demolished.
SOI 30
Stan & Lex
At the Soi 30 entrance to WAREHOUSE 30 you will see Stan & Lex Wall, one of two massive works on this soi. Stan & Lex, two internationally acclaimed Italian artists were hoisted by crane to do their intricate stencil work which adorns the facade of an entire building.The pair is best known for their halftone stencil technique and unconventional graffiti work, all of which appear in major cities like London, Paris, Barcelona, New York and Rome. Here in Bangkok their abstract work reflects the tangled electrical wires that have become an iconic symbol of modern Bangkok!
Vhils
The second massive work is just around the corner. Scratching the Surface, on the front wall of the Embassy of Portugal is a stunning wall carving by renowned Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto, aka Vhils. He used a bas-relief carving technique to give the piece a multi-faceted look from near or afar. Vhils’ works tend to reflect on emotion, identity and the notion of cultural uniqueness, exactly right for the Embassy.
SOI 32
Sofia Castellanos
If you return to WAREHOUSE 30’s Soi 30 entrance and walk straight through to the gate at the opposite end at Soi 32 (near the Grand Postal Building) you will find the contribution of the Embassy of Mexico. The outer wall features a mural 23 x 7 meters intended to create an oasis in contrast to the industrial look of the space around it.
Mexican artist Sofia Castellanos was invited to Bangkok to create a mural to celebrate International Women’s Day 2017.
Sofia’s mural, entitled Mysteries & Magic, brings a piece of Mexican culture to Bangrak. Her choice of bold colors and natural elements like the armadillo and butterflies are integral to Mexican culture. Her rendition of the female figure honoring International Women’s Day is amongst them.
If you turn left and walk towards the river you will see the back wall of the Embassy of Portugal covered by the works of Thailand’s own artists.
Kult
Kult’s work shows mysterious looking portraits with blank faces. Thai illustrator/street artist Kult is known for his surrealist portraits using dreamy compositions. The former Silpakorn University graduate has been part of multiple exhibitions in both Thailand and other countries but is now settled as a full-time illustrator at SYRUP CO.LTD.
Lolay
Lolay’s spray painted art gives us an exotic creature lolling in the soi. Thaweesak Srithongdee, aka Lolay, is a Thai street artist and former graduate of Silapakorn University who has participated in international film festivals, been awarded residency placements in Japanese art museums and participated in Busan Biennale. He also created one of Bangkok’s largest modern-day icons: the giant, feminine alien sitting outside the BACC.
Alex Face
Alex Face or Patcharapol Tangruen, a former King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology graduate is famous for his signature character, Mardi, a three eyed kid in a long-eared bunny outfit inspired by his own daughter. He actually studied architecture, but realized he could interact with the public more directly through graffiti. His pieces attempt to express frustration with local problems He wants to remind onlookers to think about the future our children will face.
Alex Face’s Mardi has been on show in London, Korea and at the Thai-Taiwan Arts Exhibition in Taipei.
Thibaud Tchertchian
Bangkok based French painter artist Thibaud Tchertchian, started with graffiti and studied in fine art school. He merges academic art and street art by using black spray paint directly on white canvas. He has had 13 group exhibitions, 9 solo exhibitions and 2 residences. His works have been exhibited throughout France, Thailand and the U.S.
His Bukruk mural of an Octopus blends perfectly with the grimy wall.
His iconic bear is instantly recognizable on the street and in the galleries of Bangkok. Since Bukruk, he had his first solo exhibition, titled ‘Animal Planet’ at Goja Gallery in Prakanong.
Bonus TMC
Bonus TMC or Akkaraphon Monthathong paints large-sized animals engaged in surreal activities. His iconic bear is instantly recognizable on the street and in the galleries of Bangkok. Since Bukruk, he had his first solo exhibition, titled ‘Animal Planet’ at Goja Gallery in Prakanong.
One mural on Soi 32 shows two tigers flying on hammerhead sharks with guns attached to their bodies.
Another of his fanciful murals here features his iconic bear wearing a snorkel and swimming mask. Not only can this bear shoot you with his pistols, he’s ready to have a refreshing swim afterwards
Phai
Phai, or Phai_Tanasan Kanakasem is the only Thai female represented here. She describes herself as an “Artist, painting, illustrator, dreamer, filmmaker from Bangkok Thailand”. One observer dubbed this work with a butterfly resting on the rifle barrel as Woman on the Hunt.
Sabek
Sabek from Spain began his work in 2000 in the streets and abandoned places around Madrid where he developed his graffiti. Later, he started to produce more figurative work experimenting with different techniques and mediums in addition to his work on the walls. His style is recognized by the representation of silhouettes of noble beasts Here he has created something fearful!
Sakyai
Life Machine by Thai artist Sakyai seems to be helpful–telling us to ride a bike and live longer? (I could find no other information about this artist.)
Soi 28
This obscure lane has 3 more urban masterpieces but it is a 5-10 minute walk along Soi 30.
Bon
Right at the beginning of the street, you will see a huge painting of by Meubon (aka Bon for short) of a colorfully dressed bird riding a unicycle while balancing a bag of groceries. He’s multi-tasking! This is Pukruk, Bangkok-based Bon’s best known character. Despite creating such vibrant characters which appear cute and cartoonish, Bon’s pieces deliver powerful messages about prevalent social issues such as the influence of media on our lives.
His growing reputation led to the offer of his first solo show at the Soy Sauce Factory in nearby Soi 24. He prepared for the exhibition for two years, creating canvases, installations, etchings and sculptures, transforming street art into work fit for a gallery.
Daehyun Kim
Just below Bon’s huge painting is a black and white mural by Korean artist Daehyun Kim which is part of a series titled Moonassi. It showcases a traditional South East Asian scene featuring intimate small details.,
Saddo
On the building across the street, you’ll find a multicolored piece by Romanian painter, illustrator and street artist Raul Oprea Sebastian, aka Saddo. Who creates fantastical, dreamlike pieces, often with a folk-art feel. His work mixes religious iconography, flowers, birds and plants together with horror movies and surrealism
Anonymous artists also made some contributions to the decoration of Soi 28. The cat and the rat and the camera are unexpected images found in the crooks and crannies of this twisting soi!
Sources:
https://bk.asia-city.com/city-living/news/awesome-street-art-bangkok-bukruk-festival
https://bk.asia-city.com/city-living/news/awesome-street-art-bangkok-bukruk-festival
https://toptables.asia-city.com/city-living/news/amazing-street- art-bangkok
https://www.timeout.com/bangkok/things-to-do/top-spots-to-see-street-art-in-bangkok
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/thailand/articles/bangkok-street-art-from-graffiti-to-the-gallery/
2 comments on “11. Chit-Chat with the Curator: From Graffiti to the Gallery”
VERNEITA boonlom
Informative, eclectic and fun!
bev
So great the works are documented before the rains and time take these art pieces away.