AKARYN Hotel Group, Thailand's home-grown luxury boutique hotel specialist, has celebrated the launch of the inaugural Bangkok Art Biennale by unveiling of a series of unique experiences and walking tours at its art-inspired akyra properties in Thailand's capital city.
Running from 19th October 2018 until 3rd February 2019, the Bangkok Art Biennale has been developed by the not-for-profit BAB Foundation to showcase creative contemporary art, support young artists, promote Bangkok as a cultural destination, and to push the boundaries of freedom of expression.
This citywide event is taking place at 20 prominent venues all across Bangkok, including major shopping malls, cultural centres and even world famous Thai temples such as Wat Pho and Wat Arun. In addition to the artistic displays and installations, the festival will also feature a series of conferences, workshops and art walks.
To enable its guests to fully immerse themselves in the Bangkok Art Biennale, akyra has crafted a series of special packages at akyra Thonglor Bangkok and akyra TAS Sukhumvit Bangkok, its two stylish boutique hotels in the Thai capital, which include a choice of accommodation, daily breakfast, a Thai set dinner, late check-out and an expert-led, four-hour tour of Bangkok Art Biennale.
The flexible walking tours make use of public transport and include visits to a series of Biennale venues close to each hotel. Guests will be led by Samatcha "Pop" Apaisuwan, a photographer and visual artist whose creative works have been employed by Thailand's Ministry of Culture and the Princess Marsi Foundation, among others.
"Bangkok Art Biennale is the perfect partner for akyra and our guests, who crave cultural immersion and creative flair," said Ms Anchalika Kijkanakorn, Managing Director and Founder of AKARYN Hotel Group. "With our carefully crafted packages, guests will be able to experience this unique citywide celebration of contemporary art, which is helping to break down cultural boundaries and provoke conversation about subjects that were previous left unspoken. At akyra, we are proud to be part of such a valuable project and even more proud to showcase it to our international guests."
Hosted in partnership with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Thai government and corporate sectors, the Bangkok Art Biennale has received international acclaim since it opened in October. Global media outlets have praised the festival's commitment to freedom of speech and displaying artworks that defy Thailand's cultural and political taboos, such as the sex industry, military crackdowns, and the conflict with Muslim insurgents in the country's Deep South.
This unprecedented commitment to freedom of expression has seen the festival attract many acclaimed global artists, including British painter Andrew Stahl, Serbian performance artist Marina Abramovic, Australian sculptor Fiona Hall, and Scandinavian installation art duo Elmgreen & Dragset. It also features many leading Thai artists, including Anupong Charoenmitr, Arnont Nongyao, Chumpon Apisuk, Dow Wasiksiri and Dujdao Vadhanapakorn.
akyra Thonglor Bangkok
akyra TAS Sukhumvit Bangkok
To celebrate this citywide festival of contemporary art, akyra Thonglor Bangkok, which is nestled in the city's trendiest district, has unveiled its "AKT8" package which includes two or three nights' accommodation in an akyra Studio or akyra Suite, plus daily breakfast for two people, one Thai set dinner, and a four-hour tour of Bangkok Art Biennale for two people.
The two-night package is available for THB 13,888 net for an akyra Studio and THB 14,888 net for anakyra Suite, and guests will be able to relax on their day of departure with a late 4pm check-out. The three-night package is priced at THB18,888 net for an akyra Studio and THB 19,888 net for an akyraSuite, also including a 60-minute in-room Thai massage for two people and 6pm check-out.
Meanwhile at akyra TAS Sukhumvit, in the heart of Bangkok's main downtown district, the "AK20" package offers two- or three-night stays in choice of rooms or suites, plus daily breakfast for two, one Thai set dinner, and a four-hour tour of the Bangkok Art Biennale for two people.
The two-night package is available for THB 18,266 net for a Premier Room, THB 21,466 net for a Junior Suite or THB 22,000 net for a One Bedroom Suite, with a late 4pm check-out. The three-night package is priced at THB 24,999 net for a Premier Room, THB 29,799 net for a Junior Suite or THB 30,600 net for a One Bedroom Suite, including a 60-minute in-room Thai massage for two people and 6pm check-out.
For more information about the Bangkok Art Biennale, please visit www.bkkartbiennale.com. Alternatively, to learn more about akyra hotels and resorts and to book any of these Bangkok experiences, please visitwww.theakyra.com.