Far Away But So Close Art exhibition

Pairoj Wangbon's art work

Date: January 18 - April 5, 2008
Venue: Vichen Gallery, BZenter, Rawai
Contact: vichengallery@gmail.com or Tel +66 (0) 89 793 6366

The work of two highly regarded Thai artists is currently on show at the Vichen Gallery.

Pairoj Wangbon produces striking abstract paintings which, he explains, are a presentation of opposites, of the rules of balance in Nature, of the interdependent forces of support and destruction required for true balance.

His colleague Somsak Kongnaphakdee says that his sculptures are inspired by daily life, what is going on around him, often the simplest, most ordinary things – things that most people don’t even notice are there. The finished sculptures have a sense of softness yet, at the same time, an almost monumental strength.

Vichen Gallery is open daily, except Wednesdays, from 3 pm to 9 pm.

Phuket International Blues Rock Festival 2008

Rich Harper

Dates: February 22 and 23, 2008
Venue: The Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa
Contact: Andy Anderson, Tel: +66 (0) 86 6822639
email: phuketmusic@yahoo.com

This year’s Phuket International Blues Rock Festival – the third – will feature ten of Southeast Asia’s finest acts, topped off with an international headliner each night. Confirmed so far are Bangkok’s Soi Dog Blues Band, Georgia’s Blues Band, Full House and Cannonball, as well as The Blues Machine from Pattaya and the Boy Blues Band from Chiang Mai.

The two top international bands are one of Australia’s top blues acts, Salty Dog, and the Rich Harper Band from Los Angeles, who also appeared in the 2006 and 2007 events.

Proceeds from the festival will go to two local charities that support children’s education – the Phuket International Women’s Club and the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation.

Light of Life art exhibition

A very realistic oil painting

Date: March 8-29, 2008
Venue: D Gallery, Royal Phuket Marina, Koh Kaew, off Thepkrasattri Road
Contact: Gem Thanthanasap, Exhibition Manager; email gem@dgallery.co.th

In March, D Gallery, a new contemporary art gallery at the Royal Phuket Marina, presents “Light of Life” an exhibition of work by Thai artist Therdkiat Wangwatcharakul.

According to the artist, his paintings – in acrylics and oils on canvas – convey “the way of true happiness and peace [derived] through the solitude of one’s surroundings and the environments one is in – as opposed to happiness derived from parties one attends or the people we surround ourselves with.”

Therdkiat has taken part in a number of exhibitions in Thailand and abroad, including solo or group exhibitions in Singapore, Japan, Korea, Spain and the Netherlands.

His most recent exhibition abroad was in 2006, with two other artists, at the the Asian Cultural Center in New York. The show was titled Tradition and Modernity in South East Asian Art.

He was awarded the Jurors’ Choice Prize in the Asean Art Awards 2000, and second prize in the Thai National Arts Competition in 2002.

D Gallery specialises in promoting upcoming and established Southeast Asian artists, principally from Thailand and Vietnam. The gallery plans to host six to eight exhibitions this year.

Phuket Food Festival

Coconut sweet dessert

Date: March 19-28, 2008
Venue: Saphan Hin
Contract: TAT office on Tel: + 66 (0)7 621 2196

Enjoy this lively, colourful and delicious festival, which lasts a belt-stretching ten days. Many authentic local dishes will be on offer, including a lot of seafood. If you like to cook, or simply to watch how Thai dishes, including desserts, are made, this is the perfect chance to do so.

There will also be a wide variety of One Tambon One Product (OTOP) handicrafts from around Thailand for sale, while stage performances by local students and bands from local pubs and night clubs around Phuket will liven up the evenings.

Contact the TAT office at 191 Thalang Rd, Phuket City, Tel: +66 (0) 76 211 036, 217 138 or 212 213, for dates and times of specific events during the festival.