press release 10th Asiatopia

Bangkok celebrates 10th anniversary of the world known Asiatopia International Performance Art Festival.

In 1998, when Asiatopia performance Art Festival started in a very small Saranrom Park, opposite Wat Poh, no one has ever thought of the festival will grow and run strong until today – a 10 year old international art festival in Thailand.

This year, November 2008, the newly open Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and the Concrete House are celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Asiatopia International Performance Art Festival, with a month long marathon performances of over 100 world famous artists from around the globe. This grand event is also to celebrate the opening of the first contemporary art museum of Bangkok.

Live Performances will take place every Friday evening to Sunday evening of all 5 weekends of November. There will be more than 100 artists from 31 countries take turn each weekend at the Bangkok art center. Famous artists from all region such as Tran Loung from Vietnam, to Alastair Mc Lennon from Belfast, Andre Stitt from Cardiff / Wales to Tony Schwensen from Australia, Marilyn Arsem from Boston, USA, Julien Blaine from France, Peter Baren from Netherland, Valerian Maly from Switzerland, Racquel De Loyola from Philippines, Arahmaiani from Indonesia, (see attached artists list), etc. Also many Thai leading performance artists include Chumpon Apisuk, Vasan Sitthiket, Paisan Plienbangchang etc…

Performance Exhibition; books, images, DVD about performance festivals around the world. Artists Materials used since 10 years ago at the collection of Asiatopia, texts, photos documents.

Symposium and lectures; One of Asiatopia’s main aims is to create and foster artist linkages and cooperation in the region.
SE Asia Performance Art Symposium is being held first time in 2005, focuses on events and movements in the region.
This year the discussion out for 4 week-ends, to hear organizers of event held in this region or about the situation in their countries. Two artists lectures, Helge Meyer will discuss his thesis on Pain in performance, and Kosit Juntaratip will address his thesis on body as media. Heru Hikayat a welknown curator and critic from Indonesia, will discuss about the current dynamic performance movement in Indonesia. Dr. Apinan Poshyananda, will give us the overall picture of contemporary art today in SE Asia, in relation to the global electronic information era.

Mini Asiatopia Chiangmai; on the week end of 14-16 November, Asiatopia in cooperation with Chinagmai University Art Center organize a 4 days exchange event between local artists and international artists, including workshops, lectures and live performances.

For more information write to info@asiatopia.org or www.asiatopia.org.