Peranakan finery back on centre stage

13 Sept 12:42 Key points summarised by AI

The traditional Peranakan Chinese wedding ceremony is revived in Old Phuket Town as the annual Phuket’s Baba Wedding Festival, showcasing rich cross-cultural heritage and promoting Phuket as a romantic destination.
Scheduled from May 20-22, the festival features a spectacular wedding procession through Old Phuket Town, a traditional ceremony at the Phuket Thai Hua Museum, and opportunities to experience Peranakan culture.
Peranakans, descendants of Chinese immigrants and local women, possess a distinct identity, language, dress, and cuisine, with their elaborate wedding traditions being a highlight of their unique culture.
Visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant Peranakan culture by observing the wedding rituals, including the symbolic bridal crown, and by exploring the renowned Peranakan cuisine in Phuket’s UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

Bright at Midnight: Conceptual echoes of Bas Jan Ader Arrive in Bangkok

Today 15:13 Key points summarised by AI

"Bright at Midnight" marks the first institutional exhibition in Asia of Dutch conceptual artist Bas Jan Ader, showcasing his enigmatic work at Bangkok Kunsthalle until January 10, 2027.
The exhibition delves into Ader's legacy, exploring themes of vulnerability and the ephemeral, made more poignant by his 1975 disappearance at sea during an art project.
It encourages viewers to engage with art beyond its material form, featuring key pieces like "Thoughts unsaid, Then forgotten," "Light vulnerable objects threatened by eight cement bricks," and the haunting film "Launch of the Ocean Wave."
A highlight is the planned live transformation of "Light vulnerable objects threatened by eight cement bricks" in 2026, where ropes will be cut, creating a new layer of art from the destructive impact.
The exhibition challenges conventional art consumption, advocating for a deeper appreciation of conceptual and research-driven artistic practices over mere fascination with art as an asset class.