The fifth edition of the Awakening Bangkok lighting festival is just around the corner, and its organizer (that’s us!) has announced two new show spots.
First is the East Asiatic Building on Soi Charoenkrung 40. First erected in 1891 as the headquarters of the intercontinental trading company of the same name, it is believed to be the oldest—and the only—Venetian-style structure on the banks of Bangkok’s main river. Due to its aging and rather decrepit condition, visitors are not allowed inside. Artist collective Alternate Reality will then project a light show on the building’s facade to highlight how it has stood the test of time.
Swan Hotel on Soi Charoenkrung 36 also makes its Awakening debut. The hotel features an architectural design that was popular back in the 1970s and ’80s: warm hues, wood materials, and a low-rise structure wrapped around a pool. The hotel was shut down because of COVID and has yet to reopen. Awakening Bangkok thus gives you a chance to venture through its closed doors to see how lights can bring the hotel back to life. Three artists—COTH, P-Nut, and 27 June—will exhibit site-specific works around the hotel grounds.
Awakening Bangkok 2022 will kick off on 16 Dec and will show at various spots for 10 days. It is organized by Time Out Bangkok, with support from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Creative Economy Agency (CEA), Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Johnnie Walker, and Bangkok Glass Studio.