Bangkok Art Biennale artists denounce police crackdown on democracy protests

A public letter was issued by twenty-five artists participating in the Bangkok Art Biennale 2020, including notable figures such as Ai Wei Wei, Anish Kapoor, and Dinh Q. Lê, expressing their condemnation of police brutality against pro-democracy protesters. They criticized the deployment of water cannons against peaceful demonstrators and advocated for an end to the violence, supporting calls for democratic reforms and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Protests took place near the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), resulting in 80 arrests and the use of dyed water cannons by police. The biennale, themed 'Escape Routes' and curated by Apinan Poshyananda, is set to open next week. The artists urge both the Biennale and BACC to stand against the violence and recognize art as a space for democracy.