The Khao Yai Art Forest in Thailand is offering a unique perspective of exploring art under the abode of nature.
Located about 3km outside the capital city of Bangkok, Khao Yai Art Forest sits on the outskirts of Khao Yai National Park. The ‘art forest’ was conceptualised as a place where art and nature could blend in to provide a healing experience to its connoisseur. Maman, a giant arachnid sculpture by Louise Bourgeois, sits at the entrance of the establishment. One benefit of it being a ‘forest’ is the expansive area it offers artists to truly let their imaginations take shape. Thus we see ‘Fog Forest’ by Fujiko Nakaya – a giant field covered with fog – on one end of the forest. On the other end, we see ‘Madrid Circle’ by Richard Long. There are also single installations scattered around the establishment – like ‘Two Planet Series’ by Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, and ‘GOD’ by Francesco Arena.
The Khao Yai Art Forest is the brainchild of Marisa Chearavanont, the wife of Thai business tycoon Soopakij Chearavanont. Marisa Chearavanont is also a philanthropist, art collector and patron. When she took residence in Khao Yai in 2020 during the peak pandemic, the idea of an ‘art forest’ first germinated in her mind. She started collecting works that would be part of this idea, including from the Panza Collection at Hauser and Wirth. She also brought in the former director of Hauser and Wirth. Stefano Rabolli Pansera, to manage this project.
Also Read: Nvidia CEO Aids Struggling California College of Art
However, one glaring problem stood in her way – she first needed to bring the international audience to Bangkok before they would even consider coming to this remote forest. In 2023, she started working on another project that ultimately became the Bangkok Kunsthalle. With Khao Yai Art Forest also completed, the two institutions – one in a dense city and another in remote forest – would offer viewers the duality of man and nature.
