Unfolding Bangkok - Greeting Benjakitti
Greeting Benjakitti, a visit to the forest park in the middle of the city
It is evident that the COVID-19 epidemic has had a significant impact on Thai tourism, ranging from measures to close the country to travel restrictions in several countries. Bangkok is one of the cities impacted, as this capital city is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. And now that the situation has been relaxed, Bangkok is ready to welcome tourists again from November 2022 onwards and provides ample experiences of traveling to this charming city, Bangkok, which you may have never witnessed before.
Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization) or CEA, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization), arrange the pilot event in Bangkok “UNFOLDING BANGKOK” under the three main themes: Hidden Temple, a secret temple tour; Living Old Building, a retrospective of historical buildings; and Greeting Benjakitti, a visit to the forest park in the middle of the city.
UNFOLDING BANGKOK is set to happen between November 2022 - September 2023 to welcome tourists to various locations throughout Bangkok. The event is expected to showcase the alternative and creative dimensions of Thailand and Thai culture in a contemporary style. It will also stimulate the tourism sector with a variety of creative activities that create a new experience of traveling in Bangkok for both Thai and foreign tourists.
GREETING BENJAKITTI
The hidden arts to enjoy in Benjakitti Park
18 March - 30 September 2023
We invite you to experience this new kind of traveling in Bangkok with UNFOLDING BANGKOK under the concept "Greeting Benjakitti” at Benjakitti Park. Let’s get to know the first environmental public park in Bangkok and enjoy art installations that inspire both mental and environmental recoveries.
You will get to enjoy 5 art installations, performing arts, and workshops that are created to inspire you. They will stimulate your learning as well as make you aware of the value of Benjakitti park, the first model of an environmental park in Bangkok that was designed to house a variety of plants and animals. In addition, it is also a space of recreation and learning that can support 5000 visitors a day.
“Greeting Benjakitti”, thus, does not only encourage the public acknowledgement of city parks but also emphasizes area conditions, habitants, and users which also inspire these art installations and performing arts. At the same time, it further promotes the understanding of the cohabitation between humans, environment and other living species.
Two Main Events of “Greeting Benjakitti”
1. Arts Installations by 5 reputable artists
18 March - 30 September 2023
The Art of Cohabitation
The aforementioned concept leads to a collaboration with “Angkrit Ajchariyasophon”, an artist and a curator, and other 5 leading artists of Thailand, i.e, “Nino Sarabutra”, “Wit Pimkanchanapong”, “Sanitas Pradittasnee”, “Suriya Umpansiriratana”, “Pok Kobkongsanti”. For six months, you will get to admire 5 artworks that reflect the cycle of change, cohabitation of all living things, and people which all depend on the same ecological system at every point of this forest park.
2. Performing Arts and Workshops
By Commercial Arts & Culture Industry Promotion Trade Association, Thailand (CAPT)
Only on Saturdays & Sundays from 18 March - 23 April 2023 (except Songkran days)
“In this big city, when was the last time you got to spend time to rest and recreate?” UNFOLDING BANGKOK was created under the concept of “Greeting Benjakitti” with an intention to create a public park at the center of the city as a place for environmental recreation. Let’s get a new perspective through viewing performing arts and art works in this oasis of Bangkok. We invite you to visit Benjakitti Park, explore nature, listen to the city, dance with trees, and fill your lungs with fresh air. In this wet greet area, you will enjoy footpaths under tree canopies that provide cooling shades as well as programs of performance and workshop. This event will only take place on Saturdays and Sundays, from 18 March - 23 April 2023 (except SongKran days), 16.00 - 19.00.
Greeting Benjakitti was created under the concept “COHABITAT” which emphasizes supportive, creative, friendly cohabitation through performing arts and workshops. It also allows participants to explore the park’s environment and get in touch with nature and arts within this oasis of Bangkok. An oasis that is not just unique, green, cooling but also gives you the enjoyment of viewing performing arts and attending workshops that are for everyone.
Performing Arts
We invite viewers across ages and gender to interact with this natural environment and sculptures inside Benjakitti park, to explore this green area, and to listen to sounds within the park. Let’s make memories about yourself and the city through a sound tour by Lab 5 Sound Works and watch stage performances by a variety of artists. From street shows, mime, magic, contemporary performance, movement-Based Performance, to contemporary drama that introduce new conversations about daily life through experiencing arts.
Schedule of Performing Arts & Workshops
More information: Greeting Benjakitti
