You can never know what you'll find at the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC) on Bangkok's busy Siam Square.
Anyone heading through Bangkok’s Siam district might expect another shopping centre at the end of the skywalk. Instead, beside National Stadium station, they find the BACC: nine floors of art, ideas and opportunities to say, “I wonder what that means?”
The building invites a slow climb. Its broad, curving walkway winds around a bright central atrium, with smaller exhibitions appearing along the way. On the second floor, the People’s Gallery gives emerging artists room to show their work. Higher up, the main galleries host changing exhibitions, so a return visit can feel quite different from the first. There is no fixed collection to tick off in an afternoon; the pleasure is seeing what is on now.
On my last visit I came face-to-face, quite literally, with contemporary Thai artist Chatchai Puipia and his "expressive" and characteristic style of emotional and performative self-portraiture. Comical and self-effacing and certainly entertaining.
Beyond the smirks and grimaces, the other displays ask for quiet thought, while others reward a second look simply because the visitor missed the joke, the detail or possibly the point. That is part of the fun. BACC makes it easy to wander in without an art degree, take a lap, and leave with at least one new favourite.
The numerous shops provide another reason to linger. Spread through the lower floors, they offer a browse among books and design goods, while the BACC shop on the fifth floor stocks items by Thai artists and designers, including pieces linked to exhibitions. A visitor who came in “just for a quick look” may find that the gallery was free but the shopping bag was not. Still, it's a chance to take home a small piece of art without paying gallery prices.
Outside, Siam carries on at full speed. Inside, there is space to slow down, cool off, look around and let Bangkok surprise you in a different way.
Opening Time: Tuesday – Sunday, 10.00 – 20.00 hrs
Closed on Mondays, New Year, and Songkran Holidays
Admission: Entry to exhibitions is free, except for special events.
Charges for concerts and plays will vary.
Location: Bangkok Art and Culture Centre is located at Pathumwan Intersection, facing MBK Center and Siam Discovery Centre.
Website: www.bacc.or.th
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