Admire Masterpieces of International Designers in the Heart of the City “Bangkok Design Festival’09” October 8 – 21, 2009
“Bangkok Design Festival’09”, the greatest art and design exhibition of the year, is ready to unveil itself at the hot spots of the city - Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery as well as Bangkok Art and Culture Centre - from October 8 to 21, 2009. For art admirers, get ready to closely witness the most innovative and intriguing masterpieces of all time!
As the best art and design exhibition of the year, “Bangkok Design Festival’09” is made possible by Bangkok Design Festival, in collaboration with Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, TCDC, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, organizations of creative work, both government and private sectors, and international art and culture organizations. It gathers stunning works of gurus and young designers, both Thai and foreigners, who will transform Bangkok into the center of art and design. Aimed to be marked on the calendar as tourists’ and insiders’ annual plan, this great event is as noteworthy as the ones in any other countries, such as Salone Internazionale de Mobile in Milan, Italy; London Design Festival in the United Kingdom; Tokyo Design Tide in Japan; Hong Kong Business of Design in Hong Kong; Singapore Design Festival in Singapore; Six Cities Design Festival in Scotland and Soul Design Festival in Korea.
This year, “Bangkok Design Festival’09” spreads its territory larger than ever with myriads of great work and activities from over 40 different projects of international organizations. To enhance liveliness to the city, special projects are exclusively initiated for this event under the concept idea of “Balancing The Future”, conveying the meaning of innovation, creativity and sustainability.
Alongkorn Pollabutr, Deputy Commerce Minister, said, “Bangkok Design Festival’09 will undoubtedly lead Thailand to the era of new economy via the tactics of creative work, which truly responds to the government’s policy. With the need of Thais’ inventive mind to stimulate and develop our own economy, “Creative Thailand” Project is therefore started under two main objectives: to turn Thailand into the hub of creative industry in ASEAN and to enhance the economic value of creative industry from 12% to 20% of GNP (Gross National Product) within year 2012 according to “Strong Thailand” Project (โครงการไทยเข้มแข็ง). Thai wisdom is also encouraged to develop high quality of local products and services to compete with the global market. As a consequence, supporting this festival, full of masterpieces from each field of art, is another way to promote Thai economy from the original source of idea to the end.”
Mayuree Chaipromprasith, Marketing Promotion Senior Director of Siam Paragon Development Co., Ltd., revealed, “Deemed as the Asian hub in so many aspects, Bangkok is the center of tourism and hospitality, fashion, medicine and surgery, spa and wellness as well as entertainment business, which proves unlimited potential of the Thai people. In art and design industry, Thai designers are also second to none in terms of their knowledge and talent. Hence, “Bangkok Design Festival’09” is an excellent opportunity to unwaveringly drive Thai design industry to the international level. As the largest shopping complex in Thailand, Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery are proud supporters of this project by providing venue in three shopping centers for exhibition for 14 days, operational support, advertising and public relations. With our strong faith, “Bangkok Design Festival’09” will be the greatest art and design exhibition of the year and the most captivating annual event.”
“According to international viewpoint, Bangkok is the city of wide diversity with exquisite culture, enchanting like nowhere else on earth. These fascinating factors spellbind several artists and inspire them to create the superb work of art. That is why we expect Bangkok to be the platform for every designer. In additional, we can sense the bliss filling October air since the festive moment at the end of the year is approaching. This festival will be more than a perfect way to share the joie de vivre with Thai shoppers in the complex since they can closely admire the work of art in the brand new atmosphere.” added Mrs. Mayuree.
Prathan Theerathada, Director of Bangkok Design Festival, proudly declared, “This year, even though we have highlights at every spot, the most fascinating point will be “Degree Show’09” Exhibition, featuring the year’s top thesis of design students in Bachelor’s degree, such as Interior Design, Product Design, Graphic Design, Animation, Fashion Design and Jewelry Design. Over 70 pieces of work from seven different fields will be creatively displayed in five Design Containers among balloons. Despite limited area, larger-than-life quality is guaranteed. Please see these outstanding pieces for yourselves at Parc Paragon, Siam Paragon.”
“Another highlight is “Creative City km.0”. This year, Change Bangkok Project continues what it began earlier. From last year, the selected photographs of places in Bangkok that need change the most is the Victory Monument, Thailand’s most crowded center (Km. 0). The designers responsible for the change are Maria Stukoff, an artist from the United Kingdom, and Apostrophy’s from Thailand. “Creative City km. 0” is the program created to develop the area around the monument by observing behaviors of the passersby. The result is the tool that will trigger change and turn the area to become more neighborly,” added Mr. Prathan.
In the heart of the city, Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery fully utilize their areas in presenting vast varieties of interesting projects. One of the most anticipated exhibitions is “DEmark”, a selection of the good design works of Thai entrepreneurs and designers in contest of DEmark 2009 Award (Design Excellence Award) organized by The Office of Product Value Development (OPVD), Department of Export Promotion, Ministry of Commerce. This is a golden opportunity for art enthusiasts to admire these genius creations at Hall of Mirror, M floor of Siam Paragon.
In Siam Center, Center of Fun and Fashion, fashionable mind can look forward to chic happening entitled “Shoes’cream by Gold City” - an exhibition of shoes designed by students from Silpakorn University, KMITL, and Srinakarinviroj University at Atrium 2, 1st floor of Siam Center. With different design processes, the result is various presenting unique designs of footwear. If you want to know how local proverbs get transformed into shoes, this is the place to go.
In Siam Discovery, intriguing fairs on each storey await enthusiastic visitors to discover. For example, “I am a Thai Graphic Designer” Exhibition by Practical Studio contains over 1,000 works from graphic designers coming from across the country. Each work is presented using photographs of each designer holding a plate with his/her own design of the phrase “ฉันเป็นนักออกแบบกราฟิกไทย” or “I am a Thai Graphic Designer”. All through the event, amazing activities are also provided, such as “graphic design” workshop for high school students and live seminar from “Put the Strong Faith in Thailand by Thai graphic designers” Program at Grand Hall, 1st floor of Siam Discovery.
For the ones who adore the work of Takashi Akiyama, Japanese visual communicator and graphic design professor at Tama Art University, “Illustration Poster by Takashi Akiyama” Exhibition at Grand Hall, 1st floor of Siam Discovery, is a “must-see”. Through over 40 posters, Akiyama is famous for communicating stories with illustrations that convey profound meanings that are beyond the ability of verbal or any international languages to communicate.
Furthermore, “BIG+BIH” at Challenger Hall of Impact Muang Thong Thani will probably be the most familiar event for most people as it’s been held for many years in a row by the Office of Product Value Development, Department of Export Promotion in collaboration with seven other associations (7 wonders) that organize a trade fair of gifts and home decoration products. This year, the event is held under the theme of “Unique Lifestyle” with a trade fair and exhibitions showcasing updated movements in both local and international product design scenes.
In Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, “Do it together by Knotting Else” is the collaboration of 10 leading interior design companies in the pattern of TETRIS puzzles. The exhibition gathers recycled materials under Green Design or environmentally friendly design concepts from each company.
Do not miss “Bangkok Design Festival’09”, the greatest art and design exhibition of the year, from October 8 to 21, 2009, in various areas over Bangkok – Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, TCDC, Impact Muang Thong Thani, Victory Monument and Bangkok Art and Culture Centre.
For more information, please visit
www.bangkokdesignfestival.com.
