Provocative MONA Museum and New Sustainable Cable Car Heading to Bangkok Riverside

BANGKOK, THAILAND — The Chao Phraya riverside is about to get a major cultural and architectural upgrade. Asset World Corporation (AWC) has announced a landmark THB 2 billion collaboration to bring two game-changing projects to Asiatique The Riverfront Destination: The World’s First Sustainable Cross-River Themed Cable Car and MONA Bangkok, an extension of Australia’s famously unconventional Museum of Old and New Art.

The ambitious initiative aims to cement Bangkok's status as a global hub for sustainable tourism, contemporary art, and immersive cultural experiences.

A Kinetic Journey Across the Chao Phraya

At the center of this transformation is a THB 2 billion cable car system designed around sustainable mobility. Engineered without support pylons in the Chao Phraya River, the energy-efficient system will connect Asiatique The Riverfront Destination with AWC’s upcoming mixed-use development on Charoen Nakhon Road.

Rather than standard transit, the cable car is conceived as a piece of kinetic art. Passengers will experience an immersive journey combining light, sound, technology, and architecture as they cross the river.

MONA Brings its Unconventional Spirit to Bangkok

The cable car will link directly to MONA Bangkok. Created in partnership with MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) in Hobart, Tasmania—Australia’s largest private museum—this new venue will not merely copy its Australian counterpart. Instead, MONA Bangkok will be built specifically for the local context, sparking direct dialogue with Thai artists, audiences, and traditions.

MONA is globally renowned for its provocative, rule-breaking approach to art presentation. The museum famously eschews traditional wall labels in favor of "The O," a custom mobile technology that allows visitors to explore art personally. Its creative incubator, DarkLab, has also shaped major cultural events, music festivals, and hospitality precincts across Australia.

"Bangkok has the energy, audience, and ambition to become one of the world’s great art destinations," says Leigh Carmichael, DarkLab CEO and MONA Bangkok project lead. "Like the museum in Hobart, it will be unconventional and unique. The theme of light will be explored both as a physical phenomenon and as a metaphor—which feels especially resonant in Bangkok, with its rich cultural life and traditions."

Redefining the Creative District

The project represents a massive leap forward for Bangkok’s creative economy, blending international expertise with local culture.

• Wallapa Traisorat, CEO and President of AWC: "This project delivers meaningful, long-term value through world-class experiences that bring together innovation, creativity, and sustainability. The collaboration with MONA Australia will help create a new iconic destination for Bangkok."

• Michael Hariz, Chief Commercial Business Officer: "More than simply connecting two locations, the cable car creates a seamless journey between Asiatique and MONA Bangkok—transforming the entire riverside into one integrated sustainable destination."

• David Walsh, MONA Founder: "AWC has presented us with a remarkable opportunity to take what we’ve learned over twenty-five years to one of the great tourist centers of the world."

The official announcement was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including Thailand’s Minister of Culture H.E. Ms. Sabeeda Thaised, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, and the Premier of Tasmania, The Hon. Jeremy Rockliff MP, underscoring the international significance of the development.

For more lifestyle, art, and city updates, stay tuned to HappeningBKK.



#HappeningBKK # #MONABangkok #AsiatiqueTheRiverfront #BangkokArt #ChaoPhrayaRiver #SustainableTourism