"BANGKOK is not BELGIUM: A Contemporary Art Exhibition from Thailand", a project by mARTarello, is an unprecedented exhibition by 7 prominent and awarded Thai contemporary artists in wide-range of age spanning from 1960s to 2000s to be presented at Antwerp Art Weekend OFF Programme. The exhibition is inspired by ‘The Thai-Belgian Bridge’ in Bangkok over the road leading to Thailand’s most important financial district. The bridge is a prominent steel flyover inaugurated in 1988 to mark 130 years of diplomatic relations, serving as a vital, enduring symbol of friendship between Thailand and Belgium.
The exhibition reflects a long-standing relationship between the two countries (Thailand and Belgium), yet exchange in contemporary art, especially conceptual art, has not been explored and exposed among Antwerp art scene and art lovers.
“BANGKOK is not BELGIUM”, curated by Chattiya Kate Nitpolprasert and artistic director Tarandeep Anand (co-founders of mARTarello), will reflect a juxtaposition in the characteristic of the two geographic locations - Bangkok and Belgium, which is similar in terms of their population of 11 million people. Bangkok is the most and only cosmopolitan city in Thailand. Thus, the mismatch of Bangkok (as city) and Belgium (as country) is used as a parody of two societal differences. The exhibition aims to initiate conversation between artists and audiences on the superficial and underlying differences and similarity of geographic location (Bangkok/Antwerp), diversity (ethnic and cultural), people’s attitudes, and their belief systems through photography, painting, and mixed-media and video art.
Participating Artists:
Sakarin Krue-on (b. 1965, Ratchaburi, Thailand) is a contemporary Thai visual artist. The art of Sakarin Krue-On involves a variety of approaches, from highly planned terraces based on traditional farming techniques to digital media installations. Krue-on was one of the seven representatives selected for the first Thai Pavilion at the 50th Venice Biennale (2003), and he was the first Thai artist ever to participate in Documenta (2007).
Michael Shaowanasai (b. 1964, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) is one of Thailand's most socially and culturally engaged artists. He works across a broad spectrum of media including performance, photography, video, film, painting, and installation. Known for his iconic cross-dressing monk Portrait of a Man in Habits, Shaowanasai is a versatile artist whose conceptual pieces, often text-based, are effective for their aesthetic brilliance and formal command. He is represented in several institutional collections including the Singapore Art Museum, University of Winnipeg Museum, SUNPRIDE foundation and National Gallery of Singapore.
Nipan Oranniwesna (b. 1962, Bangkok, Thailand) works with various social aspects and historical research through the work that accentuates relationship analysis between human and territory in both physical and conceptual ideas. Oranniwesna’s medium range from painting, sculpture, mixed media, site-specific installation, photography and video works. His practice delves into personal and collective memories, dealing poetically with spaces, urban cartography and the geo-body of nation/state. He has exhibited domestically and internationally, such as; The 12th Gwangju Biennale (2018), Setouchi Triennale (2013), Singapore Biennale (2013), The 18th Biennale of Sydney (2012), The 52nd Venice Biennale (Thai Pavilion, 2007).
Prateep Suthathongthai (b. 1980, Bangkok, Thailand) is known for his works that delve into the historical and socio-political issues in Thailand. His practice encompasses photography, video, painting, as well as installation that explores the historiography and influence of printed materials on the perception of Isan, particularly since the Cold War era. Across his career, Suthathongthai has participated in various exhibitions both in Thailand and internationally, such as Busan Biennale, Korea (2008), Singapore Biennale (2013), and 4th Moscow International for Young Art, Museum of Moscow, Russia (2014), and the Bangkok Art Biennale, Thailand (2020). He received the Grand Prize in Asian New Media Art Competition, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2007.
Imhathai Suwatthanasilp (b. 1981, Lamphun, Thailand) is an internationally known artist, in particular for her use of human hair as the main material to create her artworks. She relates hair to the human experience through works that are tactile and emotive, posing existential questions to the audience. Imhathai’s works explore notions of gender equality, life, death, violence, morality, and spiritual and beliefs systems especially in relation to Thai society. She is one of the most prominent emerging Thai female artists exhibited internationally including the Gwangju Biennale 2024, South Korea; Biennale of Sydney 2022, Australia; Busan Biennale 2010, Korea; and Thailand Biennale 2025.
Kanokwan Sutthang (b.1997, Bangkok, Thailand) is a female emerging artist, who has deep interest in the small natural elements, particularly short-lived plants such as rice and weeds. She explores the cultural contexts and stories connected to her life through these subjects. In 2024, Sutthang was selected in the Early Years Project by Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, a program supporting upcoming young contemporary artists. She recently has solo exhibition in Bangkok (Feb-Apr 2026) inviting audiences to investigate the tension between the organic and the industrial, through an observation of ‘weevil,’ a small beetle naturally thrives in rice.
Asmawee Karee (b. 1999, Betong, Yala, Thailand) is an emerging artist recognized for his exploration of identity, culture, and social dynamics within Thailand's diverse communities. He gained early acclaim as the Bronze winner in the UOB Painting of the Year competition for emerging artists in 2022. Karee has developed a distinctive visual language that merges traditional Thai motifs with contemporary expression, deeply influenced by his cultural and religious background.