The Relaunch of the Queen’s Gallery

Madame Astrid the wife of the Colombian Ambassador in Thailand, is also a passionate art and culture promoter. She has been actively collaborating promoting art institutions in Thailand such as relaunching the Museum of Chulalongkorn University with their first international art exhibition.

Promoting art in public spaces like several exhibitions in malls, inviting schools to workshops with artists, or advocating for Thai artists internationally, with three artists already signed up for the cover page of international magazines.

I heard that you are working on two ambitious art projects can you introduce them?

Yes, we have two art events that will be part of the Bangkok Art Biennale and also one will have Bangkok Art Cultural Centre (BACC) as a partner and as part of their 10th year anniversary celebration.

The relaunch of The Queen’s Gallery with the “Queen’s Gallery international tribute to the Queen”  an exhibition from distinguished artists from seven different countries including Thailand.

The first “Art & Creativity School Fair” (ACSF) and the first “Thailand Art Talent” contest TAT. Leading schools will shine with their best artworks and performances.

From: October 8 to 22 Grand Opening on September 12. At: Queen’s Gallery a beautiful modern 5 floor gallery created in response to the wishes of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit as a public space for all to enjoy and to promote Thai art. Located at Ratchadamnoen Klang Road (near Phanfa Bridge).  Open daily 10am – 19.00 except Wednesdays.

How did the idea come out? 

I was part of a group of wives of Ambassadors invited to a lunch and exhibition at the Queen’s Gallery this year and I was surprised that none of us had visited the gallery so I told them that we should organise a big event to promote this beautiful gallery. The gallery gladly agreed and we started working.

What do you want to achieve? 

To promote the Queen’s Gallery, to engage people to take advantage of the public cultural places available here to enjoy art, to promote not only the art of Thai artists but it is necessary to bring also art from artists from different countries and cultures. These exhibitions will open minds and will benefit Thai artists to grow, it will also attract and strengthen ties with the Thai, International and diplomatic communities.

“To promote the Queen’s Gallery, to engage people to take advantage of the public cultural places available here to enjoy art, to promote not only the art of Thai artists but it is necessary to bring also art from artists from different countries and cultures.”

“These exhibitions will open minds and will benefit Thai artists to grow, it will also attract and strengthen ties with the Thai, International and diplomatic communities.”

The first “Art & Creativity School Fair” (ACSF) that will also have the first “Thailand Art Talent” TAT contest. BACC Bangkok Art Cultural Centre is our partner, as part of their 10th year anniversary celebration. BACC are also one of the three judges of the TAT contest. In this fair, schools will shine through their student’s creativity. Creative education is the biggest and most important educational movement taking place in world leading capitals.

How did the idea originate?

After visiting schools art departments here in BKK, I had the pleasant surprise of seeing great artworks and art performance, creative programmes, and beautiful art centres. I wanted to share all this creativity with the community, to empower this talent, to inspire other students, to promote schools for its creative education so we started organising the first “Art & Creativity School Fair.” We had a very short time as schools started their holidays. Schools saw it as a amazing project and we are starting this first fair with leading schools that immediately jumped on the project. As we are writing the article we already have Shrewsbury, Concordian, Harrow, KIS, Bromsgrove, Wattana, Ruamrudee, Wells, Rose Marie Academy and other schools that are just confirming this week.

From: September 29 to Oct 5th with the Grand Opening on September 29. At: River City Centre who will also be a host for The Thailand Biennale. Located at: 23 Soi Charoen Krung 24, Khwaeng Talat Noi, next to Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel.