art4d SPEAKS WITH WITSUWAT AMKAPHET, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BANGKOK METRO NETWORKS (BMN), ABOUT THE BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS NEW ART SPACE WHERE YOUNG THAI ARTISTS CAN SHOWCASE THEIR TALENT
TEXT: KAMOLTHIP KIMAREE
PHOTO COURTESY OF METRO ART
(For Thai, press here)
Art has always been a mirror of how a society has evolved. It ingeniously encapsulates events and stories from each epoch, many of which resulted in significant ripple effects. Thailand’s art scene has grown significantly over the past couple of years, with veteran and young-generation artists making the local art scene more dynamic and energetic than ever. With the incredible power of art as inspiration, Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited, or BEM, the operator of Metropolitan Rapid Transit, or MRT (the provider of the blue and purple lines), and Bangkok Metro Networks (BMN), the service provider specialized in advertising media and spaces in Bangkok’s metro network, recognized the potential of “art spaces” and initiated Metro Art: The Inspiring District. The project was launched on January 26, 2023. Witsuwat Amkaphet, Managing Director of Bangkok Metro Networks (BMN), spoke with art4d about the history of the new art space at Paholyothin Metro Station.
Witsuwat Amkaphet, Managing Director of Bangkok Metro Networks (BMN)
art4d: What inspired you to create an art space inside a metro station
WITSUWAT AMKAPHET: I have noticed the rise in the younger generation’s interest in art and their visits to spaces and venues where art exhibitions and projects are held. I’ve also seen the talent and potential of young Thai artists through these spaces, which got me thinking about the many unused spaces in our metro system. That’s where the idea of turning these spaces into something that can benefit these young artists and art lovers came from. We want to give them an opportunity and platform to showcase their artistry and creativity. Thailand has so many talented artists. We’ve seen the works they’ve created and agreed that if we turned this space into an art destination for the art community, it would draw a lot more artists to participate, especially those who are talented but have no platform. Our intention of wanting to give these young-generation artists an opportunity to get their works out into the public’s eyes later led to the birth of this art destination. Our focus is primarily on showcasing works by Thai artists.
art4d: We’ve heard that it’s also run as a commercial art space where works are sold and bought; how do you handle this aspect differently or similarly to other art galleries?
WA: The artists themselves handle the purchasing and selling, and we don’t profit from it. The money that an artist makes from showing their work in this space is entirely theirs. As I mentioned earlier, our goal is to give young artists a space to showcase their work. We help get the word out about artists’ talents and shows through various media channels, both online and on public transportation.
art4d: Is it a non-profit operation, so to speak, with no commercial or profit-making aspects?
WA: That’s correct. We see it as a push to encourage the next generation of Thai artists to pursue their artistic careers and, hopefully, become successful artists. The artists we invite are not those who are already at the top of their field but budding talents who are just getting started, for example, the street artists PRJ and The Jum, who are among the highlights of our inaugural season. Our core business is the transportation system and the fare. We are not profiting from this space. What we’re doing is adding value to commuters’ experiences, as suggested by our tagline, “Happy Journey with BEM.” We have created this art destination with Paholyothin station, while other stations have different things based on their personalities.
art4d: In terms of function, how do you manage the space?
WA: We run it as a temporary exhibition space. But each artist ultimately has control over the space for their exhibition. We divide the room into two wings, south and north, and the works can be wall paintings, sculptures, or characters that can be presented in the exhibition space. We also offer what we term an “inspiring space,” which is similar to a lifestyle-oriented painting class, with each participant receiving a certificate upon completion of each lesson. The middle hall is set up as an art market, with stalls offering DIY art products. Each week or month, the market will have a distinct theme or concept. We are also providing the space free of charge in order to establish and foster a sense of community.
art4d: What criteria are used to select each artist?
WA: We’re collaborating with expert curators, and for each timeslot of each artist in each series, we’ll hold a signature event every three months. It’s a fun event with music, talks, networking, and a meet-and-greet.
art4d: How do you believe this type of art space will affect the people who live in this city?
WA: In my opinion, art can never harm anyone. It is up to us to choose the type of art we consume to benefit the most from the experience. And it makes no difference what kind of art it is. Having a venue allows individuals to feel and appreciate the atmosphere, as well as offering users the chance to experience art in its tangible form, which was not possible when the initiative originally began, as COVID-19 limited art viewing experiences to online exhibits. The commute to our art space is also really convenient.
