Thai Pop Culture - Bangkok
 

Is there a section of BKK in any way equivalent to the Chelsea gallery area in NYC (what was SoHo 20 years ago?) -- I found a few interesting galleries on the web in the embassy part of town but they're quite spread out.
Or a web site good for current contemporary art shows/galleries/events? We did find the artist section of Chatuchak market last time but figure with all the hip young Thai designers -- there has to be an intriguing art presence? Any leads appreciated !!

This from an article on dwell.com

Bangkok’s arts scene seems to be maturing. Would you agree?

Cynics might say, “What art scene?” There’s no gallery row in this city, no Chelsea or Greenwich Village. But there is great art here. The closest thing to an art area is around Silom Road, where the gallery movement has also contributed to the mounting effort toward historical restoration. H Gallery is in an old wooden schoolhouse, while the Kathmandu Photo Gallery, run by one of Thailand’s most famous photographers, Manit Sriwanichpoom, is run out of a beautifully restored shop house. La Lanta Fine Art is an art gallery in Baan Silom, a very hip new colonial-style complex. Another Silom-area institution is Eat Me Art Restaurant, which has, in addition to fantastic food, outstanding exhibits.

Try the National Art Gallery located opposite the National Museum at the Pinklao Bridge - very near Khao Sarn Road. Always exibitions going on there.

See for all details:

http://www.national-gallery.go.th/eng/about.html

Patravadi Theatre located not far from the National Gallery on the other side of the river (take a boat across Chao Phraya from boat pier at Sanam Luang/Thammasart University, is Thailand's most famous of its kind.
Lotsa shows/arts etc..... Highly highly recommended! See:

http://www.patravaditheatre.com/

I've been saving info on art exhibitions - not sure if any of this would help you. This is just stuff I have saved from tripadvisor posts I think mainly.

http://www.rama9art.org/artisan/galleries/index.html

two artmaps that you should pick up to get ideas of what's going on:

- BAM Bangkok Art Map, the editor has his free-hand in picking the exhibitions that he likes


-TADG: This one has more ads but it gives you good glimpse.

You can buy in bookstores but also available (free) in some of the galleries, e.g. 100 Tonson Gallery, near the Dutch and U.S. embassy.

list of galleries other than national art gallery:
AKKO Gallery Bangkok University Art Gallery

Bangkok Sculpture Centre Carpediem

Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Gallery

Chulalongkorn University Art Centre Gallery 55

Gallery f-stop (located in Tamarind Cafe) H Gallery Sathorn

Jamjuree Gallery Kraichitti Gallery

La Lanta Marsi Gallery National Gallery

Queens Gallery Rotunda Gallery Siam Society

Tang Gallery Thailand Cultural Centre

see this article - http://www.travelfish.org/feature/21

Siam Square is generally where all the trends emerge among young people, although not so much in terms of art as fashion. The new Bangkok Art Museum is on the corner opposite Siam Square, MBK and Siam Discovery.

Thank you all so much -- Silom was the address for some of the galleries I found on line so that seems like a great lead, and I remember the rama9art name from research we did for our first trip. All of this is exactly what I was looking for. Very grateful and excited :)