Bangkok Art Biennale 2024 Critiqued for Corporate Glamour Over Local Environmental Focus

The fourth Bangkok Art Biennale, named Nurture Gaia, is taking place until 25 February at 11 locations throughout Bangkok, showcasing more than 240 pieces from 76 artists. Curated by Apinan Poshyananda and others, the event delves into ecological issues, drawing on James Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis and Bruno Latour's concept of the 'critical zone.' Among the highlighted pieces are Lisa Reihana's Groundloop (2022) and Rob Crosse's Wood for the Trees (2023). The biennale has faced backlash for favoring corporate interests, particularly in light of the One Bangkok project by ThaiBev's affiliate. Permanent installations, such as Tony Cragg's It is, it isn't (2023–04), are eclipsed by towering buildings. Collaborations with Thailand's Fine Arts Department feature works like Dusadee Huntrakul's A Verse for Nights (2024), but critiques point to a disconnect and an overwhelming global influence on local narratives.