A Cult Pop Artist Chooses To Showcase His Latest Creation In Bangkok. Amit Dixit Reports On The Frenzy That Follows
Bangkok has more layers than an onion, each layer an entire universe. One of these layers is, of course, retail. Bangkok’s frenetic shopping scene will set the pulse of even the most reluctant consumer racing. Elevated walkways transport shopaholics seamlessly between malls which loom over Bangkok like benevolent deities. There must be a million stores and more here, all heaving with merchandise and utterly fashionable shoppers. Queen bee among Bangkok’s malls is quite possibly Central Embassy, an infinity-shaped mall bristling with possibilities which owes its name to its location on the grounds of the British High Commission. I’m no mall rat, but I know a nice mall when I see one. And Central Embassy is really, really nice.
Of course, I wasn’t in Bangkok to shop. It was a more rarefied layer of the onion I was after. What I hadn’t known until recently was that Bangkok has a keen appreciation of cutting edge art. But, being Bangkok, it was all happening at the mall. Central Embassy, which routinely celebrates the arts with exhibitions on its premises, was unveiling KAWS: BFF, an eight-metre-tall sculpture by the Brooklyn-based artist known as KAWS (a combination of letters he found interesting and adopted).
This story is from the August 2016 edition of Outlook Traveller.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2016 edition of Outlook Traveller.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Can The Himalayas Outlast Tourism?
Love The Himalayas, But Worried About Its Future? Hear From Three Experts On The Future Of The Region And How It Can Be Protected
EATING MINDFULLY
SUNITA NARAIN FROM THE CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT DISCUSSES HER NEW BOOK WHICH COMBINES THE JOYS OF EATING WITH CARE FOR THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE WHO TILL THEM
The Jewels Of Costa Rica
A Long-time Birdwatcher Describes His Travels To The Lush Rainforests Of Costa Rica
WINGED WONDERS
The story of migrating birds is the story of a promise to return, flying thousands of miles beset with dangers.
THE LOOMINARIES
THE ROLE OF THE GREAT REVIVALISTS WHO GAVE INDIA'S TEXTILES A NEW LEASE ON LIFE CANNOT BE STATED ENOUGH. WE TRACE THEIR CELEBRATED LEGACY
KEEPERS OF THE CRAFT
FROM REVIVING TRADITIONAL WEAVES TO CONTEMPORISING THEM WITH MODERN SILHOUETTES, THESE DESIGNERS ARE COMMITTED TO KEEPING THE LOOM TURNING WITH A FRESH TAKE ON HERITAGE TEXTILES
SONGS OF THE SOIL
WITH INDIGENOUS TEXTILES FACING THE WRATH OF FAST FASHION AND CLIMATE CHANGE, INDIAN DESIGNERS ARE RALLYING TO REVIVE AND PRESERVE THESE PRECIOUS WEAVES
CRAFT CRUSADER
THROUGH HER TEXTILE EXPLORATIONS ACROSS INDIA, DR PRITHA DASMAHAPATRA HAS BEEN PRESERVING ANCIENT CRAFTS, EMPOWERING ARTISANS, AND INSPIRING TRAVELLERS TO DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF HYPERLOCAL EXPERIENCES
ON THE GRID
THE VIBRANT MADRAS CHECKS, NATIVE TO SOUTHEASTERN INDIA, HAS NOT JUST TRANSCENDED BORDERS BUT ALSO TRADITIONS AND STYLES
GOLDEN SILK
THE PROPERTIES THAT MAKE MUGA SILK UNIQUE COULD SEE IT BEING USED IN THE BIOFUELS AND MEDICINES OF THE FUTURE
