River City Bangkok - a premier contemporary art destination
Nestled along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok is River City, a building comprising four floors of art galleries, antiques, restaurants, shops, and river views. If it’s your first time here, definitely wander and explore each floor, as there are many unique spots to discover.
I visit River City about 4-6 times a year for the contemporary art galleries on the second floor. I especially love the photography gallery, MODA, pop-up photo booths, and coffee from Antday Cafe. To stay in the know about exhibitions and events, follow their Facebook page.
MODA (Museum of Digital Art) has blown me away with their immersive art experiences for two years. Art comes alive through projected animation and music composed by well-known musicians. Imagine entering a dark hallway, and as you pull back the curtains, you reveal famous pieces of art that fill the room from floor to ceiling, enveloping you in a cozy blanket of art. It’s educational, inspirational, and modern.
I went back twice to experience ‘From Monet to Kandinsky’ and ‘Van Gogh: Life and Art.’ Truly unlike anything you can imagine!
I highly recommend ordering tickets online in advance and plan to spend 1-2 hours in the exhibition. Except for MODA or the occasional show like Andy Warhol or Eugenio Recuenco, all the galleries are free.
The Eugenio Recuenco exhibition is currently taking over most of the second floor, and it is phenomenal. This body of work took 8 years, 120 models, and a dedicated production team of 300 people. I spent 90 minutes ooohing and ahhhing at the details and already have plans to go back and bring friends. I love that installations are set up throughout the exhibition so we can be part of art magic. So bring a friend, as tripods are not allowed. The collection is on view until September 15th, 2021. Please enjoy this reel if you’re not in Bangkok.
Don’t miss Tang Contemporary Art on the second floor as well. Originally established in 1997, focusing on Chinese artists, it has since opened Beijing and Hong Kong locations and expanded to include international artists. Recently, I was thrilled to see Ai Weiwei’s solo exhibition, Year of the Rat, a creative response to Covid-19 featuring impressive Zodiac Lego portraits and marble sculptures of iconic 2020 symbols like takeout containers and toilet paper.
Next, head to the third floor for the Crystal Walk (20 gorgeous crystal formations from around the world), 333 Gallery (Thai and Vietnamese artists), Xspace, and AIR (artists in residence program).
You can easily spend a few hours or a whole day at River City by combining the exhibitions with the following activities. You can join the Film Club for an art documentary (check events schedule for showtimes). You can buy the perfect gift at The Gallery Shop, with fabulous finds from local and international artists. You can dip your toes in the sand while you paint a masterpiece in the painting bar, Soul Salt. When you get hungry, The Coffee Club has vegan options! And to end a great day, Viva and Aviv is perfect for sunset cocktails on the river.
Tell me about your favorite River City Bangkok art exhibition in the comments below!
River City Bangkok is open every day from 11am-8 pm.
It is a 15-minute walk from Hua Lamphong MRT Station or a 20-minute walk from Saphan Taksin BTS Station. It is also reachable by the Orange Flag express boat from Sathorn Pier (25 minutes) or via taxi.
