Twenty artists from around the world will present their creative artworks in the upcoming Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023, Second Phase, to be held from 9 December 2023 to 30 April 2024 in Chiang Rai Province. The event is expected to generate income for the country from contemporary artistic and cultural activities.

On Thursday 17 August 2023, H.E. Mr. Itthiphol Khunpluem, Minister of Culture, presided at apress conference at the Jim Thompson Art Center, Bangkok and revealed that there will be 20 participating artists in the Second Phase of the Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023. Ms. Yupa thaveewatnakitvon, Mrs. Supapan Muncharoen, Deputy Governor of Chiang Rai Province, Mr. Prasop Riangngoen, Director–General, Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, Ministry of Culture executives, Mr. Pisan Chansin, the Provincial Cultural Director of Chiang Rai Province, and Artistic Directors and Co-Curators were also present.

H.E. Mr. Itthiphol Khunpluem said that the International Contemporary Art Festival, Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023 has made a great progress with collaboration from all sectors and partners, both in Bangkok and other provinces. Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023 will offer the opportunity for artists to explore the region before crystallizing their ideas to create the artworks. Co-curators and their working teams took the artists to the 17 main display sites in twodistricts, Mueang District and Chiang Saen District. The sites included Baandam Museum (Black House), Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), Chiang Rai International Art Museum (CIAM), Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, Mekong Basin Civilization Museum, Rai Cherntawan, Chiang Rai Train Library, Sing Park Chiang Rai, Chiang Saeng National Museum and Wat Pa Sak, etc. Five site visitshave been arranged. The latest one was held on 12 - 16 August 2023. All information gathered will be used in the art making practices of the artists involved in the project.

Co-Artistic Directors Rirkrit Tiravanija and Gridthiya Gaweewong, Co-Curators AngkritAjchariyasophon and Manuporn Luengaram added that the Co-Artistic Directors and Co-Curatorsjointly selected artists from around the world to participate in the International Contemporary Art Festival Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023 and presented their selections to the operating committee. A total of 60 artists from 21 countries from the new generation, as well as leading artists will present their artworks at the International Contemporary Art Festival Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023 - 21 artists from Thailand and 39 foreign artists. The artwork proposals from all 60 artists have been drafted for further creation.

In addition to displaying artworks of 60 international artists, the International Contemporary Art Festival Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023, will feature more than 10 pavilions of local, regional and international partners such as a Korean Pavilion, MoMA Warsaw Pavilion, Production ZomiaPavilion,  Sala Khin Pavilion and International Watercolor Artists Group, together with sideevents, including educational programs, spectacular parades and Open House by local artists in collaboration with communities from 18 districts, a music program created by multi-ethnic groups, film screening programs, performing arts and 30 open artists’ studios. These activitiesreflect the creative strength and cultural wisdom that has been nurtured and developed inChiang Rai Province for over 700 years.

20 artists in the Second Phase of Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023 include:

1. Korakot Aromdee

2. Chitti Kasemkitvatana

3. Wit Pimkanchanapong

4. Wantanee Siripattananuntakul

5. Chata Maiwong

6. Sompong Sarasap

7. Zen Teh, Singapore

8. Terek Atoui, Lebanon/Paris

9. Precious Okoyomon, New York

10. Arto Lindsay, Rio de Janeiro

11. Boedi Widjaja, Singapore

12. Hsu Chia-Wei, Taipei

13. Kader Attia, Paris/Berlin

14. Maria Hassabi, Cyprus/ NY

15. Movana Chen, HK/Lisbon

16. Pangrok Sulap, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

17. Poklong Anading, Manila

18. Tayeba Begum Lipi, Dhaka

19. Tcheu Siong, Luang Prabang

20.Tuguldur Yondonjamts, Ulaanbaatar

Some artists also joined the press conference and the site visit together with Co-Curators to prepare the venue for the Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023. The official opening ceremony of the event will be on 9 December 2023 at Chiang Rai International Art Museum (CIAM), MueangDistrict, Chiang Rai Province, and will last until 30 April 2024.

For more information, please visit www.thailandbiennale.org, Facebook: thailandbiennale.com