We were in Siam Paragon without a fixed agenda, so I googled “things to do near Siam Paragon” (pretty intuitive, right?!) and the Bangkok Arts & Culture Centre came up.
I further googled, and got a mixed bunch of reviews, some frankly hilarious, some very dismissive, but everyone unanimously agreeing that there are lots of places to eat and drink, so off we went to check it out for ourselves.
First things first.
This is a huge space, dedicated to art, and there is no admission, no charges, nothing. So, quite frankly, that’s already a win.
The building is gorgeous, unfurling and spiraling as you make your way upwards, and there were different art exhibitions and installations on each level.
The BACC was busy, but not heaving, and the biggest crowd was for an exhibition of art work by the graduating class of a university. Lots of proud looking youngsters standing next to their work, and equally proud parents taking photos. Too sweet.
We pottered around, looking at OK-ish art, but I was seriously impressed by the fact that there are also art supply shops, and a book shop, and and a photographic society, and this…
The commitment to the arts in the widest sense of the word is self-evident, and watching the proud art students, as well as a class of younger students sketching, all felt encouraging and – yes – sane and wholesome in the crazy world we all currently live in.
Didn’t tell anyone I blog. Chatted to a charming young man who had a fabulous double screen laptop, and who charmingly demonstrated all its features to us. Oh and yes, I did indeed have a coffee.