Name of your organisation: WHITESPACE GALLERY
Website of your organization: www.whitespaceasia.com/gallery
How is your organisation funded?
WHITESPACE GALLERY is supported by whitespace. Company (an architecture design firm) where David is the gallery&whitspaceasia director who believes in heart of design is art. He turn up shopping space become art space. The gallery gets its support of about 290 US dollars per month. Right now, our budget is too small because most young Thai artists cannot sponsor themselves for exhibition.
Explain what your organisation is about (to somebody who does not know about it).
WHITESPACE GALLERY is independent art space in Bangkok located at the popular shopping center (Siam Center). We provide free space for young Thai and foreigner artists who wish to exhibit their art works (4 weeks for each artist)
WHITESPACE GALLERY has already exhibited interesting contemporary works of 9 artists since.
WHITESPACE GALLERY is non-profit art space that also provides opening for artists who have no money and present them in the way it should be. We are looking to lift up the art movement in Bangkok by profiling new young artists who are artistically strong, but not yet gain recognition in the established art scene. At the same time, we also like to present some mature artists who have something to share and dialogue with the young generation.
Describe how your organisation is engaged in international cooperation and exchange.
Whitespace Gallery has presented 2 foreign artists since our opening in December 2006. We receive applications (e-mail & direct contact) from artists who want to present at our space. There are just not enough presentation spaces for contemporary art in the centre of Bangkok. We wish to promote joint shows or collaborations between foreign and Thai artists. We know the importance of international exchange, but we do not want surface co-operation. Describe how your art space relates to the local community. If you are about to open an art space, explain how you related to the local community in your previous experiences.
Whitespace gallery is strategically located in the heart Siam Square which is the shopping district where many students (from the nearby univerisities) and artistic people can visit very easily. The choice of artists and works are always contemporary. This means our audiences are those who are truly interested in current, urban and real expressions. I am myself a Bangkok-trained artist (at Silpakorn University). I feel I connect best to the younger generation artists and audience. Therefore Whitespace is an exciting long-term project which allows me to reach out to people with contemporary interests.
What are the major internal and external challenges your organisation is facing?
We need to network with many artists (Thai & foreigner) who are looking to exhibit work at our space. We need to build up a bigger and full-time team to run the space eventually. A good and efficient working structure. We have to look for smart ways to sustain the space. How to raise funds or be self-funding. How to gain recognition from the media and the rest of the independent and established art scene in Bangkok and Thailand.
What are the main achievements and strengths of your organisation?
We have been very active since we started. There is good response from the art scene and also the audience. This is a good sign. We are still young but energetic and determined to make Whitespace a success. We are small and therefore flexible. We are not controlled by government or commercial pressure. So Whitespace enjoys more freedom than other art spaces.
