‘Art gives value much more than bliss’ – B Veeraphut, Bangkok Art Biennale festival

In Part II of our photo essay on the BAB festival, we share insights on the valuable contribution of art to society and the economy.

PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 255 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.

The inaugural Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) festival features 200 works from 77 artists chosen from 33 countries. The art works are displayed in 20 locations around Bangkok (see Part I of our photo essay here).

The aim of the festival, titled Beyond Bliss, is to include happiness as a key topic of dialogue when global discussions focus largely on political and economic issues, according to the organising team led by artistic director Prof. Apinan Poshyananda.

Happiness and success mean different things to different communities, and so does the interpretation of the importance of art. “Art gives value much more than bliss,” said festival coordinator Veeraphut Boonyamanop, in a chat with YourStory.

Art helps remove stress, fire up the imagination, and increase awareness about social and environmental issues. “Art keeps people happy, it keeps people alive,” Veeraphut adds. Happiness and sorrow are temporary, and it is important to focus on the long term.

Each artist at BAB was asked the question, What is your bliss – and each came up with a different answer. The responses include: Happiness is a blissful smile (Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi), Happiness is how you look at all the things in the world (Jirayu Tangsrisuk), Happiness depends on you (Orn BNK48), and even Happiness is being able to complete works within the deadline (Mayette Noijinda).

The biennale will help put Bangkok on the world’s cultural map, not just as a destination for entertainment or pleasure but as a hub connecting to global and local art, Veeraphut explains. There are more than 300 such art festivals around the world.

In this photo essay, we feature more of the traditional and contemporary art works at venues such as the nine-storey Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (see our earlier photo essay on BACC here).

Veeraphut studied in Bangkok and Sydney, and now specialises in the hospitality and culture sector. “Keep your creativity alive. Try your hand at multiple forms of art, whether digital or traditional – you can combine various forms in your own way. But the journey is long: don’t look for quick riches or easy fame,” he signs off, as advice to aspiring artists.

Now what have you done today to focus not just on immediate happiness but a long-term legacy or contribution to society?

Got a creative photograph to share? Email us at [email protected]!

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