Essay on why are there no art fair and biennale in Bangkok

Bangkok is regarded as a little but extremely vibrant contemporary art scene. Besides, most of the small private and commercial galleries of Bangkok promote Thai and local artists. Both Bangkok’s artists and gallery owners coexist in an unresponsive environment, and they have become rather innovative trying to attract the local audience. (http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-galleries.htm)
Anyway, Bangkok is a home for the National Gallery of Thailand and many other museums, and art galleries. However, there is no art fair and Biennale in Bangkok. Let’s examine why.
At first let’s see through the art situation concerning the art fair and Biennale within the East Asia. So, there are a number of art fairs and biennales in Hong Kong and many countries in the South East Asia. Singapore Biennale 2011 is considered to be the leading Biennale in Southeast Asia, featuring contemporary art from not only Singapore but also from the whole Southeast Asia within a broad international conversation. The artists try not only to ground in the world subjects describing or portraying, but also they try to exchange information. In addition, the artists make a lot of attempts to translate experiences as well as set and provide the possible perspectives. (http://www.1fmediaproject.net/2011/03/13/singapore-biennale-2011/)
Additionally, the international art fair Art Stage Singapore has become the new art destination within the world of artists, collectors as well as art-lovers and dealers from the different countries of world. This fair is expected to become a place of the main international art market. The ex-director of Art Basel, Lorenzo Rudolf, reports that to his point of view, despite the fact Asia will have a number of national and regional art places, it has the possibility to accommodate only two international-league fairs within the future, and they are Hong Kong and Singapore. These two cities are strong enough to host the top-level art fair or a biennale. (Art of the matter, 2011)
Meanwhile, Bianpoen in her article named “Negotiating Home, History and Nation” reports that the first time Indonesia had been included in a European art fair only when it had been represented with about 40 art works in Art Paris + Guests 2009.( Bianpoen, 2011).
In addition, The Haughton International Asian Art Fair, founded in 1996, is considered to be the world’s leading Asian art fair and the centerpiece of New York’s annual Asia Week. This fair has become a link between a huge group of the world’s leading dealers in “Near Eastern, Indian, Himalayan, Tibetan, South East Asian and Far Eastern works of art.”, attracting both institutional and individual buyers from the United States, Europe and the Far East. As a result, now there is an opportunity of viewing and buying the rarest and unique pieces of Asian art. (Harcourt-Webster, S., Grigorian, M., 2007)
There also exists a great initiative that is called Art Triangle, being a very special connection between the artists in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. This Art Triangle organizes every year a sale of artworks and it looks for the sponsors and tries to go into a fund, giving grants for the art projects. (CHIN, S., 2011)
As to the Hong Kong, the Art HK has been positioned as a key fixture on the international art calendar only for three years and is expected to gain the leading place of world the art market.
It could be said that art world insiders are starting to recognize the importance of the art market in Asia. (http://www.hongkongartfair.com) So, it is possible that the situation in the South East Asia is improving; however, there is much to be done to create an important art market within the region.
Nevertheless, Bangkok is not ready now to hold an art fair or Biennale. Of course, there are art galleries around Bangkok and people who are looking for the traditional Thai art works will definitely like a lot of exhibitions. The most important are the paintings that are displayed at the Bangkok National Gallery and besides; there is also a collection of the abstract contemporary pieces. In addition, there are two famous places featuring a number of art galleries along with the art shops, these places are Khao San Road and Siam Square Besides, there is a lively student areas with many artists selling their works on the street. (http://www.bangkok.world-guides.com/bangkok_art_galleries.html)
The Gallery F Stop is also a remarkable place that is a part of the vegetarian restaurant, named The Tamarind Cafй. The Gallery F-Stop is an ideal place to see magnificent photography and is considered to be the best photo gallery in Bangkok. (http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-galleries.htm)

Furthermore, it is very important to mention that there isn’t any concentrated art arena in city and that the galleries can be found all over city.
Klempin A. says that April is considered to be the quietest time for art in Thailand because the major art galleries are closed over the Songkran period- the celebration of the traditional New Year in Thailand, as a result, a lot of people would like to use the opportunity to travel to the provinces or just spend time with a family at home. The Bangkok streets become almost deserted between 12th and 16th April, and those who are brave enough to go outside can be easily splashed with buckets of water or smeared with powder, these are the parts of the festivities. On April 24, the galleries open. (Klempin,A., Letter from Thailand)
Besides, there are a lot of Thai artists participating in the grand art fairs and Biennales, for example, the Venice, Singapore and Basel Biennales. So, it can’t be said that Thailand doesn’t have artists.
But why are there no art fairs and biennales in Bangkok?
Is the art scene not ready? Or is there a lack of audience or maybe nobody organize them?

Of course, there isn’t any lack of audience as Thai people are participating in numerous art exhibitions not only in the region, but also within the world. Thai people do love art and have a lot of art galleries. However, there is a lack of interest within the audience as there are no professionals dealing with the development of art locally and in the whole country. Thailand doesn’t have enough art public institutions as well as higher education for curators. Furthermore, it is believed that the practice of curating in the country to be in great danger because of the lack of people who may increase the public interest in art.
It is rather difficult to answer all these questions. Firstly, the art scene of Thailand may be ready, but it is not enough. The main problem is not the readiness, but the lack of financial support. There must be a lot of money invested to build an art infrastructure. Besides, there must not only financial support, but also a support in policy and education.
As to the government and its support it should be said the authorities are trying not enough to create an art environment.
It is a well-known fact for the Thai people that the governor of Bangkok Chichi Rattakul, planed to create a contemporary art museum in Bangkok. As a result, its construction began in 2000, but there were financial problems along with the alleged corruption so the building was later halted. However, in 2005, there was the restarting of the project. At first it should have been named as Bangkok Metropolitan Museum of Contemporary Art (BMOCA), but before its opening it was renamed to Bangkok Art and Culture Centre.
However, I would like to stress that the Thai government do has money as the tourism in the country is developing very intensive and more and more luxurious resorts are being build. For example,the luxurious Belgravia Residences, featuring a lot of facilities and costing a lot of money.( http://www.luxurylaunches.com/real_estate/belgravia_residences_luxury_residential_development_in_bangkok.php)
As a result, the country features far more tourists every year and they are also interested in art. As for me, the government should really sponsor art events and try to develop the local art infrastructure.
Unfortunately, the Thai authorities are not really trying to improve the art situation in the country.
A Contemporary art is now becoming a so called commodity.
Anyway, the art is in danger as there must be a sufficient support from the government and sponsors. People of Thailand are really creative and talented and would like to present their works on the international level but now they face a lot of problems.
To my point of view, there must be far more people responsible for the development of art in the country and the government should overlook their relation to it or the art of Thailand will be in danger.
And besides, as it was mentioned above, there are only two cities that are capable to hold the art fairs and biennales- Singapore and Gong Kong. So, the local government should do all their best in trying to be like these two cities.
Besides, I am totally sure that the government has to strengthen the institutions in order to provide a greater infrastructure for their future generations.
Meanwhile, now Singapore should be seen as an example of infrastructure in the region.