DIB BANGKOK OPENS GIVING LIFE ชีวิต ชีวา
Over 160 works by 33 Thai and international artists explore movement, transformation, and artistic vitality
Dib Bangkok opens Giving Life ชีวิต ชีวา, its second major exhibition since launching in December 2025. Running through May 3, 2027, the exhibition features over 160 works by 33 Thai and international artists that examine how art moves, transforms, and takes on a life of its own.
Curated by Ariana Chaivaranon, Giving Life anchors itself in the legacy of Alexander Calder. The exhibition revisits a pivotal 1975 moment when Calder’s work debuted at Bangkok's Bhirasri Institute of Modern Art. Over 60 archival materials trace how his pioneering kinetic experiments sparked new directions in Thai abstraction, performance, and socially engaged practice.
The exhibition bridges historical context with contemporary creation, placing Calder in dialogue with international and Thai artists including Paul Chan, Izumi Kato, Caitlin Keogh, Tuan Andrew Nguyen, Sutee Kunavichayanont, and Rirkrit Tiravanija.
Exhibition Highlights:
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Interactive and Kinetic Works: Visitors can directly power Sutee Kunavichayanont’s inflatable sculpture, Elephant (Breath Donation), using their own breath. Tuan Andrew Nguyen transforms unexploded ordnance into a kinetic installation, while Paul Chan presents his self-animating "Breather" sculptures.
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Inaugural CHANEL Gateway Commission: Supported by the CHANEL Culture Fund, this new annual initiative supports large-scale works by Thai artists. Bangkok-based artist Nawin Nuthong inaugurates the series with Project 147 (๑๔๗), an interactive video game environment across six consoles that explores regional mythology and history.
"Giving Life reflects what we want Dib to become: a living institution shaped by its collection, artists, and city," says Purat “Chang” Osathanugrah, Founding Chairman of Dib Bangkok. "We aim to cultivate patrons, empower talent, and strengthen the ecosystem that lets art thrive in Thailand."
Visitor Information
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Dates: September 26, 2026 – May 3, 2027
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Location: Dib Bangkok, 111 Soi Sukhumvit 40, Phra Khanong, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
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Hours: Thursday–Tuesday, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Closed Wednesdays)
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Admission: THB 700 (General) / THB 550 (Thai residents)
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Tickets & Details: www.dibbangkok.org
Main Photo: Nawin Nuthong inaugurates the series with Project 147 //Photo Courtesy of Dib Bangkok
