EARTH DAY X LOVE ART ON THE RIVER

EARTH DAY X LOVE ART ON THE RIVER:

SUSTAINABLE ART SCULPTURES POWERED BY UNITED OVERSEAS BANK

Partners by the Chao Phraya River will present a series of sustainable art work crafted from recycled materials by talented university students in Thailand and their respected mentors

Through the art of recycling, Earth Day x Love Art on the River is brought to life with the collaborative efforts of five venues — Capella Bangkok, ICONSIAM, River City Bangkok, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok and The Peninsula Bangkok — as well as five highly acclaimed Thai artists and art students from five local universities. The exhibition will debut on 22 April and end on 31 May 2020.

In honouring Earth Day, which falls on 22 April 2020 and supporting the local communities in Bangkok, ‘Earth Day x Love art on the River’ is designed to raise awareness about the pollution of the Chao Phraya River. The goal of the event is a joined-forces effort with five riverside partner, five highly acclaimed Thai art mentors and art students from five local universities to create 10 meaningful, powerful sustainable art sculptures. Transforming waste into inspiring art, the exhibition advocates for the cherished waterway of Chao Phraya being clean again. By supporting the community that art creates, Earth Day x Love Art on The River will help build consensus, the will to effect change and the inspiration to act to protect the Earth.

Dotted along the Chao Phraya River, the exhibition features sustainable art sculptures made of recycled materials. Each sculpture is created by university students; Chulalongkorn University, Silpakorn University, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Mahasarakarm University and Suan Sunantha University under the guidance of five renowned mentors, including Amrit Chusuwan, Kamol Phaosavasdi, Kitti Sangkaew, Taweesak Molsawat and Witshulada Panthanuvong.

• Amrit Chusuwan

Amrit Chusuwan studied painting at Silpakorn University and pursued his master’s degree and artist career in Poland in 1980s. He had his first solo show in Poland in 1989. Chusuwan was among the pioneering artists in Thailand in the late 80s, experimenting with conceptual paintings which stood apart from traditional paint on canvas and other mediums. Daring and audacious, Chusuwan’s art draws different ideas and oftentimes, juxtapositions together to show how the impossible is possible.

• Kamol Phaosavasdi

Renowned as one of the forerunners of Thai media, art installations and video art, Kamol Phaosavasdi has been producing works relentlessly and exhibiting in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the United States. Phaosavasdi often encourages art connoisseurs to interact and connect with his situational and site-specific work as it brings him joy and feedback. His exhibitions and performances are provocative, inviting viewers to ponder the potential of body art which is frequently stereotyped as dissident art. In late 2000, Phaosavasdi began to convey a pure essence of tranquillity in major projects like Bon Voyage (2002) and Quiet Storm (2005). More recently, he has been working closely with communities both in Bangkok and small provinces to bring art to a new level, allowing art to function and serve social objectives such as raising awareness for the less privileged.

• Kitti Sangkaew

Assistant Professor Kitti Sangkaew holds an MFA from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. As an artist, he has received many awards, such as Silver Medal from the national Silpa Bhirasri Exhibition of Contemporary Art by Young Artists. As a production manager, Sangkaew oversees the Raw Mab Studio that offers specialised services in art production and installation. The studio nurtures staff and technicians who share a fine art and design background and are commissioned to produce artworks for many well-known artists. For the very first Bangkok Art Biennale, Sangkaew supervised the production and installation team to create Zero (2018) by Elmgreen & Dragset, The Monuments of Memory, the Golden Room (2018) by Paolo Canevari and LostDog (2018) by Aurèle Ricard. At the 58th Venice Biennale, the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture and Ministry of Culture in Thailand entrusted Sangkaew to lead the production and installation crew to work on the art pieces presenting in Thai Pavilion on-site. Moreover, Sangkaew recently reproduced the artwork of Montien Boonma, one of the legendary Thai artists of all time, to be displayed at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. With the vision to bring up the next generation of artists, Sangkaew is now teaching at the Department of Fine Art, Faculty of Architecture in King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang.

• Taweesak Molsawat

Taweesak Molsawat is no stranger to awards when it comes to Thai performances. The multi-talented artist and researcher, Molsawat earned a degree in Industrial Design at the King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang prior to gaining an MFA in Jewellery and Metalsmithing at the University of Kansas. As the former Assistant Professor at the Department of Art, Design & Art History at San Diego State University, Molsawat conducted exhibitions, performances, lectures and workshops across Thailand as well as worldwide. His cross-cultural art creatively and critically conveys a diversity of symbols which delves into many social and cultural issues in today’s world. Moreover, Molsawat has been exhibited around the globe, from Singapore and Australia, to Germany and Spain, to the United States. A lover of words and critical art, Molsawat have also published several books, academic papers and articles in the field of creative art and design.

• Witshulada Panthanuvong

A social activist artist who transforms recycled materials into treasured art, Witshulada uses the arts as a medium to speak up about environmental issues. This is especially evident in her involvement at the 12th of Sustainable Development Goals, where she explored responsible consumption and production patterns. Rather than holding the overly optimistic hope of ridding all wastes in the world, Witshulada firmly believes that the key is to reduce the impact of waste. Hence, Witshulada created striking art installations to help raise awareness, aid waste control and promote recycling. While making art may not be a solution to environmental problems, Witshulada wishes that art would act as an inspiration and motivate the society to treat Mother earth better.

Launching on 22 April 2020, Earth Day x Love Art on the River’s showcases of sculptures in the five main venues. (Media Press conference is on 21 April 2020 and is opened to public from 22 April 2020 onwards)

Events Partner

Earth Day x Love Art on the River is supported our main partners:

United Overseas Bank (Thai) (UOB) Thai 

Mr Sanchai Apisaksirikul, Managing Director and Country Head of Finance and Corporate Services, UOB (Thai), said that over the support of Earth Day x Love Art on the River, UOB not only helps showcasing the creative work of talented artists but also promoting the environmental awareness for the wider community.

“At UOB (Thai), we focus on creating sustainable value for our customers, colleagues, shareholders and community for the long term. We seek to address the environmental, social and governance challenges and opportunities in a manner consistent with our values. We remain steadfast in our commitment to promote the development of art, children and education, and to conserve environmental resources for the well-being of today and future generations — all aimed at contributing to a strong and a sustainable future for the wider community. Through this partnership initiative, this collaboration has demonstrated our long-term commitment to the communities that we work with.”

Thai Airways International

Thai Airways recently launched Zero Waste Management: A project to help save and create a circular economy for both the organisation and the nation as a whole, starting with food waste. The airline is cooperating with FoodInnoPolis to develop an action plan.

Sculpture Auction

All of the art pieces produced by the students will be available at the silent auction from 22 April until 30 May 2020. The funding raised will go towards scholarships and student aid to strengthen the local art community in Thailand. 

EARTH DAY X ART AGAINST EXTINCTION

An expansive and collaborative exhibition showcasing a series of sustainable art crafted by 50 local artists to help raise awareness and funding for wildlife conservation

A collaborative project with 50 local artists, Art Against Extinction is an exhibition to support some of the world’s most endangered wildlife. The exhibition will be launched on Earth Day (22 April) and until the World Environment Day (5 June) to raise awareness and funds for wildlife conservation. Organised by Wildchain and Global Shapers Bangkok at ATT19 Art Gallery and The Nestel, the event allows guests to join various activities every Saturday such as sustainability workshops, inspirational talks, fundraiser events, as well as a gallery hopping night, charity dinner, eco-market and eco-film festival at ATT19 Gallery.

For more information about Earth Day x Love Art on the River, please call +66 2020 2888 or e–mail ktangon@peninsula.com.

For further information, please contact:

Khemwanta Tangon

Director of Brand Marketing & Communications

Telephone: +66 (2) 020 2888 ext. 6608
E-mail: [email protected]

Patthira Weir

Marketing & Communications Manager

Telephone: +66 (2) 020 2888 ext. 6215
E-mail: [email protected]