Thai Collective Art Practices Face Political Threats and Historical Challenges
On July 23, 2022, in Kassel, Germany, during Documenta 15, the Thai organizations Thalay Association and Baan Noorg Collaborative Arts & Culture engaged in a conversation about Thai sociopolitical issues through artistic expression. Established in 2011 by jiandyin (Jiradej Meemalai and Pornpilai Meemalai), Baan Noorg presented an installation featuring shadow puppetry alongside a skate ramp. The discussion encompassed topics such as patriarchy, youth activism, Article 112 (the lèse-majesté law), and the history of protests, with references to the Ramayana. The roots of collective practices trace back to radical groups after 1973. Recent movements, including the Ratsadon protests of 2020-21, influenced exhibitions at Cartel Artspace and Bangkok CityCity Gallery. Challenges faced include dependence on international funding and a proposed NPO Bill that threatens civil society, with events like a November live painting at WTF Gallery encountering police interventions.
Key facts
- Documenta 15 event on July 23, 2022, featured Thai groups Thalay Association and Baan Noorg Collaborative Arts & Culture
- Baan Noorg was founded in 2011 by artists Jiradej Meemalai and Pornpilai Meemalai (jiandyin)
- Discussion covered Thai lèse-majesté law (Article 112), patriarchy, and protest history
- Thai collective art origins include post-1973 groups like Dharma Group and Artists' Front of Thailand
- Recent protest archives include Museum of Popular History (2021) and exhibitions at Cartel Artspace
- Funding challenges involve foreign sources like German cultural institutions
- Proposed NPO Bill could increase state scrutiny of civil society organizations
- Late curator Thanom Chapakdee died on June 27 and noted historical lack of strong art resistance ideology
Entities
Artists
- Jiradej Meemalai
- Pornpilai Meemalai
- jiandyin
- Anon Chawalawan
- Mit Jai Inn
- Karnt Thassanaphak
- Rirkrit Tiravanija
- Surasi Kusolwong
- Pratuang Emjaroen
- Chumpon Apisuk
- Vasan Sitthiket
- Plienbangchang Brothers
- Thanom Chapakdee
- Navin Rawanchaikul
- Jay Koh
- Apichatpong Weerasethakul
- Taiki Sakpisit
- Penwadee Nophaket Manont
- Somrak Sila
- Jit Phumisak
- Thanom Kittikachorn
- Claire Veal
- Seng Yu Jin
- Elly Kent
- Hans Ulrich Obrist
- Hou Hanru
- Joseph Beuys
Institutions
- Thalay Association
- Baan Noorg Collaborative Arts & Culture
- Documenta 15
- iLaw
- Bangkok CityCity Gallery
- Kinjai Contemporary
- Cartel Artspace
- National Gallery Singapore
- Artists’ Front of Thailand
- Coalition of Thai Artists
- Wethi-Samai
- Tap Root Society
- Project 304
- About Café
- Asiatopia
- Womanifesto
- Ruang Pung Art Community
- Ukabat
- FreeArts
- Human รา้ ย Human Wrong
- Thalufah
- WTF Gallery
- Khon Kaen Manifesto
- Cross Cultural Foundation
- Goethe-Institut Thailand
- Royal Thai Embassy in Berlin
- German Federal Cultural Foundation
- Silpakorn University
- Thammasat University
- Future Forward Party
- Khana Ratsadon (People’s Party)
- Artreview.com
Locations
- Kassel
- Germany
- Thailand
- Ratchaburi province
- Nong Pho
- Taiwan
- Bangkok
- Singapore
- Ratchadamnoen Avenue
- Chiang Mai
- Isaan
- Hesse
- Berlin
- Europe
- Philippines
- Indonesia
- Vietnam
- Japan