Pattani Biennale 2026 Explores Deep South Life Through Humble Gestures
The Pattani Biennale 2026, named 'Simple Poetry', is currently being held in Pattani, Thailand, until 1 November. Anuwat Apimukmongkon serves as the curator for this exhibition, which takes place in various locations such as a former juvenile detention center, a university dormitory, a park, and a gallery along the Pattani River. It highlights works from Thailand's Deep South, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, and Myanmar. Among the featured pieces are 'Garam di laut, Asam di Darat' (2026) by Iris Sham and Louisa Mammeri, and 'Beyond Loss II' (2026) by Pichai Pongsasaovapark. Additional highlights include a women's collective's protest against a gas pipeline, portraits created by local inmates, and clay sculptures crafted by LGBTQ+ youth. A review will be published in the Autumn 2026 edition of ArtReview Asia.
Key facts
- Pattani Biennale 2026, titled 'Simple Poetry', runs across venues in Pattani, Thailand, through 1 November
- The exhibition is curated by Anuwat Apimukmongkon
- Venues include a home for juveniles, a university dorm, a park and a gallery beside the Pattani River
- Iris Sham and Louisa Mammeri performed 'Garam di laut, Asam di Darat' (2026) on a bridge over the Pattani River, serving fermented foods tied to Pattani, Hong Kong and Palestine
- Pichai Pongsasaovapark's 'Beyond Loss II' (2026) references 48 wooden trawlers decommissioned under a vessel buyout programme and used as firewood to produce budu
- Tear Factory Boy contributed seven progressively smaller fish-cooler boxes commenting on warming sea temperatures
- A local women's collective known as the 'Sarong Warriors' campaigns against a proposed gas pipeline project, with paraphernalia displayed at the local university
- Nitipong Nikaji guided young LGBTQ+ individuals in creating 'Identity' (2026), a group of phallic freestanding clay sculptures
- The review was published in the Autumn 2026 issue of ArtReview Asia
Entities
Artists
- Iris Sham
- Louisa Mammeri
- Pichai Pongsasaovapark
- Tear Factory Boy
- Nitipong Nikaji
- Anuwat Apimukmongkon
Institutions
- Pattani Biennale
- Sarong Warriors
- ArtReview Asia
- ArtReview
Locations
- Pattani
- Thailand
- Pattani River
- Gulf of Thailand
- Hong Kong
- Palestine
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Deep South