Bangkok Art Biennale: Nurture Gaia
Various locations

Across epochs and cultures, the concept of Gaia—the divine personification of planet Earth—has held significance in mythology, religion, philosophy, art, and science. Recently, under the title “Nurture Gaia,” it served as the theme of the fourth Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB), which meditated on poignant matters of environmental degradation and preservation. Engaging our collective moment, 76 artists from Thailand and across the globe presented nuanced reflections on how to move forward in an ecologically fragile era. In the show’s 11 venues—including the National Museum, the National Gallery, and four Buddhist temples along the banks of Chao Phraya River—contemporary works were often placed alongside religious artifacts in a dialogue between past and present, emphasizing how life and creativity are continuous, circular, and interconnected.

Many of the contributions explored Buddhist notions. South Korean artist Choi Jeong Hwa’s Breathing Flower (2012)—a giant red inflatable lotus blossom—recalling the power of breath, which is considered the essence of life in Buddhist philosophy. Similarly, six Tibetan-style thangka paintings by Russian artist Nick Dudka shifted ancient art practices into the contemporary realm. His Ushnishavijaya and Three Long Life Deities (2009–10) demonstrates how a theological teaching exercise remains grounded in the use of natural materials.