From the behemoth art centers to new café-slash-galleries and graffiti happenings, we explore Bangkok’s new artistic hangouts.

A few minutes' walk from BTS Phra Khanong, the new gallery GOJA, translated as “come together,” is set in a renovated old shophouse and boasts a clean and very cool Japanese vibe. Its two plain white walls are lined with art pieces, while the minimally decked-out venue also serves as a cafe with drip coffee and a brief selection of booze for art enthusiasts to enjoy at the slender window-side counter. Making art more accessible, pieces are priced from as little as B2,500. What’s more, its buzzing opening parties bring together art and music in a charmingly casual way, making for a great excuse to visit Phra Khanong.

5/2 Soi Pridi Banomyong 3 (Sukhumvit Soi 71), BTS Phra Khanong. www.facebook.com/gojaphrakanong. Open Tue-Sun 12am-9pm.

Nestled in a quiet sub soi of Sukhumvit Soi 67, Rebel Art Space is the brainchild of controversial social activists-cum-artists Vasan Sitthiket and Wannaphon “Sai” Chimbangchong, and seasoned curator Jiratti “Bee” Kuttanam. As its name asserts, this place is not just about selling canvases but also aims to be a platform for artists and a venue to exchange ideas through talks and happenings. In addition, it serves as an art archive for Vasan’s works, many of which were banned and never exhibited. We hope to see its great rooftop deck get busier, starting with the upcoming group exhibition General/Tiger/Gun by Myanmar artists this May.

10/5 Sukhumvit Soi 67 (Soi Srijun), 087-112-7774. Open Tue-Sat 10am-7pm (prior appointment is advised).

It’s hard to imagine anything exciting going on above a 7-Eleven. But that view will change once you’ve seen this spacious 250-square-meter white loft, with its sweeping river views. Initiated and supported by photographer James Nachtwey, The Space is one of the most unconventional yet efficient spots for art in the city, having played host to various art and cultural events, from exhibitions and seminars to installations and performances. The creative space is also known for its art-meets-music events like the recent Art Party! and Chiaroscuro M.M. Caravaggio.

Klong San Market (above 7-Eleven), Charoen Nakhon, 081-821-7127. www.thespacebangkok.com. By appointment and varied according to activities.

After relocating from Siam Square over to the second floor of a building in Sala Daeng Soi 1 last year, the new Whitespace Gallery retains its focus on promoting young emerging artists. As the name suggests, the venue is little more than stark white walls and unfinished concrete floors but it gets decent foot traffic of mostly expats and art students who appreciate contemporary arts. Curated by Maitree Siriboon and David Mayer, with occasional guest contributors, the gallery has consistently put on exhibitions with more of an experimental, avant-garde leaning.

1 Sala Daeng Soi 1, 02-235-2500. MRT Lumphini. www.whitesp-cegallery.com. Open Wed-Sun noon-6pm.

Manipa “Fahsai” Jayawan Chairperson, Bangkok University Gallery (BUG) What do you think of all the new art spaces popping up in the city? Well, it surely brings people closer to art, and it’s nice to see more places serving as community hubs because art isn’t about just staring at works. But is it merely a fad? We’ll see how committed and professional they are. It’s a shame how art has been steered away from daily life; it began as something intertwined with the Thai lifestyle, like the murals on temple walls. But, be it due to Western influence, or just that we visit temples less often, somewhere along the line art was put on an altar, into galleries and museums, which are not ingrained in the Thai way of living. “It's a shame how art has been steered away from daily life” What do you make of the new spaces seeming to bring more fun to the art scene? It’s fun, of course, but that shouldn’t be everything. There’s a lot of new galleries, but not all of them have a strong curatorial focus. Some long-running galleries with entrusted curatorship, like Gallery VER or 100 Tonson, don’t rely too much on visitors; purchases are made without having to physically see the work. I subscribe to Nong [Tawachchai Somkong, editor of Fine Art]’s opinion: artists need to work hard to create good diversity, through strong characters, both in terms of works and venues, while adjusting to meet the market demand. Art is a business, albeit one with a big grey area. Is Thai art making good progress? We still need to look at the whole picture; so much can be improved. The fact that very few art graduates become artists these days is a worrying sign. We need to look at the system and help people to work. The support from the government is inadequate, compared to what we see in our neighboring countries. It’s no accident China’s art scene rose onto the world stage. There are more inbound and outbound artist residency programs in Thailand. Cultural and knowledge exchange substantially benefits the scene in a genuine, less superficial way. It makes it easier to get funding, too. There was a talk about Bangkok doing a biennale. I’m not against the idea. The prospect of it is appealing, but it’s never an easy task to do right and consistently. We had the Bangkok Bananas back in 2009, which was a cheeky reply to the idea. But be it biennale, triennale or quinquennale, it will require consistent commitment and dependable collaboration. HOF Art The HOF Art collective is turning nine and about to unveil its new venue in Phra Khanong in the next few months. As for now, the group has been busy with an introductory street art activity, which has seen the walls and the rooftop of E88, the community mall inside the W District project (Sukhumvit Soi 69-69/1) painted and sprayed by street artists like Cecê Nobre, Melanie Gritzka del Villar and Bonus Tmc. What’s more, there’ll soon be a DIY art market on-site where you can shop for everything from sculptures to paintings. Toot Yung Art Center This popular contemporary space relocated to a new home in Ekkamai last year and comprises an artist’s residence, a working studio, a workshop, and a boutique store. Founded by Pierre Wirth and curator Myrtille Tibayrenc, the art center has recently been very active on the residency front, with artists like Fernando Aceves Humana showcasing their works and collaborating with local artists. The art spot also houses a café that doubles as a bar on weekends. It even hosted a gig by flamboyant Belgian duo Alek et les Japonaises last year, and we’re hoping that’s a sign of further exciting things to come. 12/6 Ekkamai Soi 2, 084-914-5499. BTS Ekkamai. Open Tue-Sun 11am-8pm. H Project Space H Gallery is not a new name to art enthusiasts, but its upstairs remains a lesser-known space dedicated to experimental projects and installations. Sat amid the vintage décor of this delightful old Thai home, the space adds more variety to the gallery. Solely coordinated and curated by Brian Curtin, it’s recently hosted the likes of the cosmic atom installation Quark by Eji Sumi and the Four Countries exhibition by Chat Piersath, and promises to bring more experimental works to the fore. 2/F, H Gallery Bangkok, 201 Sathorn Soi 12, 085-021-5508. BTS Surasak. Open Mon, Wed-Sun 10am-6pm. Speedy Grandma Arriving as a guerilla addition to the scene, Speedy Grandma was founded by Lee Anantawat and Thomas Menard, who are always looking to keep things fresh. Unlike traditional collector-oriented galleries, they settled in a Charoenkrung alley that boasts a more quirky and down-to-earth vibe and, with its eclectic curatorship, offers everything from experimental film screenings to performance art. Special mention must be made of its launch parties—some of the most outrageous fun you can imagine having in a so-called "gallery." 672/50-52 Charoen Krung Soi 28, 089-508-3859. www.speedygrandma.com. Open Tue-Sun 11am-7pm. Thong Lor Art Space Bangkok This latest addition to the art scene is actually an abandoned guesthouse in Thonglor taken over by the Democrazy Theatre troupe. Thong Lor Art Space will present its opening event, The Other Rooms, featuring a whopping 26 contemporary artists on May 2-3. While performance art is a given due to Democrazy’s involvement, we’re excited to see more cross-disciplinary collaborations spanning installations, motion pictures and paintings at the theatrically-themed building. 58/14-15 Sukhumvit Soi 55. (Soi Thonglor) BTS Thong Lo. Chomp New all-day dining venue Chomp is yet another good reason to visit the old town. Not only does it serve up hearty burgers (from B200) featuring bread made in-house, steaks, shakes, cocktails and more from 8am-midnight, but the kid-friendly space also offers activities like jiu jitsu, yoga, Thai language lessons and some pretty intriguing art events on a regular basis like the recent Snatchers street photography exhibition. Samsen Soi 1, 084-098-8633. www.facebook.com/chompcafe. Open Mon, Wed-Sun 9am-midnight.

Orawan "Noyz" Arunrak, artist

How much has the art scene changed in the past few years?

I remember going to galleries about 10 years ago when we students had to really make plans and share cabs. It’s now a lot easier with galleries popping up at convenient locations near to the BTS. Things are a lot more traffic-oriented than before, with many places doubling as cafés or bars. Many don’t seem to have a clear focus or principle, though, which I think is an important aspect of an art space. Some galleries may have less people visiting, but I think they might be happier having a few who are really interested in the work, rather than a hundred who don’t really give a damn.

And in terms of the experience at galleries?

Opening receptions used to be all on Thursday and last until 8pm at the latest. Now it’s more of a party, often held on Friday and Saturday, and galleries don’t mind having openings on the same day anymore. The crowd also knows which galleries start up earlier and which parties last till the next morning. It’s harder to focus on the work, too. When I was young it was more about the exhibited work and getting to talk to the artists, but now it’s more like meeting the crowd of so-called creative people. Maybe that’s the same anywhere in the world now; you don’t get to really see the work at an opening reception.

“Opening a gallery looks to be easier and require less effort now than in the past”

Has the audience expanded, too?

It’s still very narrow, everybody generally knows everybody. I’d say it’s roughly 65 percent expats, 35 percent Thai. Opening a gallery looks to be easier and require less effort now than in the past. Back then a lot of preparation needed to be done beforehand, printing and delivering hard copies of invitations and catalogs. Some won’t bother these days. Perhaps it’s just evolved with technology. Suppose you’re doing an exhibition at your place tomorrow, you post it on Facebook now, invite all your friends, and, there you go, the next day a hundred people will turn up.

What else do you think the scene is missing?

Not every gallery focuses on archiving their work; maybe it’s down to the digital age. But I think the archive is important in keeping a record of what’s on at the time. Some galleries close down, but by looking at their archive, you still get value out of it. The art lives on. An art space like About Café, which closed down years ago, still lives on in my memory. I’m not sure the same can be said about every new gallery.

Messy Sky / Cloud This creative space takes shelter in a shophouse on Maitree Chit Road, and acts as a treasure trove of documents, books and conceptual works. Initiated by artist Chitti “Joe” Kasemkitvatana, Pratchaya Phinthong and Thakol Khao Sa-ad as the physical space for their publication Messy Sky, the three-story venue now dedicates its space to Mary Pansanga's project space Cloud, which aims to serve as a meeting place for discussion and intervention and recently collaborated with the Bangkok Experimental Film Festival to hold a film master class by Act of Killing director Joshua Oppenheimer. 418 Maitri Chit Road. www.messysky.com. By appointment and varied according to activities. Adler Subhashok This new addition to the Bangkok art scene offers a gallery inside a gallery. The Subhashok Art Center just joined forces with Parisian gallery Adler, to become the Adler Subhashok Gallery. It’s boldly setting a revenue target for itself of B100 million in its first year, meaning it’s planning on taking Thai art global and really developing the market the way China did 10 years ago. The opening exhibition gathered some of the biggest names in Thai contemporary art: Lampu Kansanoh , Manit Sriwanichpoom, Michael Shaowanasai, Kittikun Mankit and Katanan Iamchan. It’s such a high-flying roundup, it almost serves as an overview of Thai contemporary art. The collaboration will also potentially see the work of more emerging Thai artists get exhibited over in France. 160/3 Sukhumvit Soi 33, BTS Phrom Phong. Open Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-6:30pm. Modern Gallery Modern Gallery, situated right near the front of OP Garden in Charoenkrung, is the brainchild of art collector Ritt Slipsophon, who previously ran 44 Arts Gallery. The setting is pretty traditional. The gallery’s aim to showcase works by both prominent and rising Thai artist means we get to see pieces by Thawan Duchanee, Chalermchai Kositpipat and Angkarn Kalayanapong, alongside emerging artists like Lolay, Cherdwood Sakolaya and Thanakorn. OP Garden, 30/1 Charoen Krung Soi 36, 02-238-6449. BTS Saphan Taksin. Open Mon-Sat 11am-7pm. Dot Art + Suite Rekindling their shared love for design and architecture, the father and son behind Cherubin Chocolate Cafe renovated the building next door as a space for art. Dot Art’s all-white interior is home to the owners’ collection of wood carvings, furniture and ceramics, with occasional guest artists’ exhibition. We’re excited by how it merges a gallery and a hotel in one, allowing you to act as a resident artist for a night or two at its truly boutique two-room hotel. 5/1 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 089-223-1493. Open Tue-Sun 11am-7pm. Soy Sauce Factory Speedy Grandma’s Thomas Menard has teamed up with Vincent Sung (Eclectic Lab) to transform this three-storey warehouse, which was a former soy sauce factory near River City into a new art studio. Designed by the founders, it promises a New York industrial-loft vibe with light installations, DJ booths, pop-up bar-cum-kitchen, cyclorama on the second floor and a rooftop view of the canal. This latest Charoenkrung art spot looks set to become host to many gigs and parties. Judging from its recent It's a Bad Idea party by Duck & Noodle, this is one venue sure to pull in an eclectic crowd while keeping things fresh in the local art scene. Charoenkrung Soi 24, 092-115-8696. www.soysaucefactory.com. Open Tue-Sat noon-11pm.

Jongsuwat “Ung” Angsuvarnsiri Managing Director, Adler Subhashok Gallery

How do you rate the Thai art scene at the moment?

The local scene has been expanding but it still remains a rather narrow and niche audience. It’s a challenge to make art become a part of daily life and we have seen more art spaces adapt in order to generate more traffic. We want to bring in artists from outside of Thailand so that our local audience and artists can see where everyone else is at on the global art scene.

And in terms of the market?

There’s a growing number of local purchasers but the main players are still foreign dealers and collectors. More and more buyers are looking for something different to break away from the Chinese arts trend. And despite the unique quality of Thai art, it’s not the most recognized in Southeast Asia; they often think of Indonesia or Singapore first.

“The main players are still foreign dealers and collectors”

What needs to be done to improve things?

We are trying to push our artists' exposure to worldwide dealers and collectors; but simultaneously, we need to promote such values locally, as it will boost the market flow and effectively boost artists' confidence in pursuing their career. First, we need to adapt and apply a system to our artists: they must learn to be on time and work with a structured approach, as well as try to discover and possess original traits.

Adler Subhashok recently exhibited at the Art Paris Art Fair. How was it?

It was great to exhibit our artists' works among world-renowned artists like David Lachapelle, Liu Bolin, Kimiko Yoshida and Eugene Leroy. We have had personal visits by the Art Paris Art Fair's directors and artists like Liu Bolin and Laurent Elie Badessi, who you don't get to see every day. The good thing about the buyers was that almost all of them were dealers. This means that the art works will continue to circulate in Europe and further increase in value through second buyers and so on. We have also been invited to join Beirut Art Fair in August and Singapore Art Fair in November.