Mona Bangkok: Tasmanian museum plans Thailand outpost by 2029
A new art museum called Mona Bangkok is on the horizon, set to rise along the waterfront in Bangkok. This exciting project is a joint effort between Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) and the Asset World Corporation (AWC), and they announced it on July 10 at the Athenee Hotel Bangkok. Key figures at the event included Mona's owner David Walsh, artist-curator Kirsha Kaechele, and Leigh Carmichael, CEO of Darklab. AWC will handle building and running the museum, while Mona will take charge of its design and exhibits. The partnership lasts 15 years, with an option to extend for five more. Opening in 2029, the museum will explore the theme of light and will bring fresh energy to Bangkok's art scene alongside existing venues like Dib Bangkok, MOCA, and the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre.
Key facts
- Mona Bangkok announced on 10 July 2026
- Partnership between Mona and Asset World Corporation (AWC)
- Mona founded by David Walsh in 2011
- Kirsha Kaechele and Leigh Carmichael also present at announcement
- AWC will build, own, and operate the museum
- Mona responsible for architecture, curation, collection, commissioning, exhibition design
- Agreement for 15 years with 5-year extension option
- Museum expected to open in 2029
- Preliminary rendering shows two interlocking triangles on Chao Phraya River
- Accessible by ferry and chair lift to Asiatique
- Mona Bangkok will not be a replica of Hobart Mona
- Light is a major theme for the new museum
- Bangkok already has Dib Bangkok, MOCA, and Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
- Carmichael to lead project for Mona
Entities
Artists
- David Walsh
- Kirsha Kaechele
- Anselm Kiefer
- Julian Charrière
- Jenny Saville
- Alfredo Jaar
- James Turrell
- Pablo Picasso
- Leigh Carmichael
- Wallapa Traisorat
- Harper Levine
- Doug Aitken
Institutions
- Museum of Old and New Art (Mona)
- Asset World Corporation (AWC)
- Darklab
- The Art Newspaper
- Dib Bangkok
- Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Bangkok
- Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
- Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
- Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC)
- DarkLab
- Khao Yai Art Forest
- Museum Pier
- Harper Levine gallery
- Six Degrees Architects
- Asset World Corp (AWC)
- Bangkok Art Biennale
- MOCA Bangkok
- DiB Bangkok
- ArtsHub
Locations
- Hobart
- Australia
- Bangkok
- Thailand
- Athenee Hotel Bangkok
- Chao Phraya River
- Asiatique
- Tasmania
- Chao Phraya river
- Huon Valley