Design pieces from Australia

Bangkok celebrates its designers and artists with an international event

Bangkok has its fashion weeks, international book fairs, film festivals and celebrity food events. Now, it's the turn of Thailand's artists and designers to celebrate their crafts with their very own international event. Residents and visitors can catch the Bangkok Design Festival 2008 at various venues around the city from October 14 to 26.

"We've always wanted to have our own festival," says event director Pratarn Teeratada.

The 13-day "Everybody's Everyday Life" event brings exhibitions, workshops and markets in the city centre with the larger BIG and BIH fairs at Muang Thong Thani and will showcase works from India, France, Australia, England and other countries as well as selected degree works shows by senior design students.

Among the highlights are Rush Pleansuk's outdoor chairs decorated with hanging orchids and ferns to bring a touch of nature to the tiny balconies of today's tiny condo rooms. You can see them at Siam Paragon, along with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation's "IsAmAre", which explains how you can live with design and technology while being environmentally friendly.

German landscape artist Christian Phongphit, who lives in Bangkok, plays with abstract works at TCDC , while eight independent studio designers from Australia show their ideas at Siam Discovery Centre's Grand Hall.

Siam Commercial Bank is sponsoring the event. Says its executive vice president Rungruang Sukkirdkijpiboon, "Thai designers have high potential but lack a stage."

Venues are Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre, The Jim Thompson Art Centre, Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery Centre, Siam Centre, The Emporium and Impact, Muang Thong Thani. Most of the shows are free.

For the schedule and programme, visit www.BangkokDesignFestival.com.