To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Central Embassy takes visitors to the future in "Bangkok 3024", a world-class immersive showcase. "Bangkok 3024" was created by Daniel Arsham, a New York-based artist known for fictional archaeology -- a concept that explores our current era and culture through the perspective of the future.
Through mind-bending manipulation of architecture, sculpture and spatial design, Arsham transports audiences into the future where a fictitious archaeological dig site awaits.
Raised in Miami, Arsham graduated from Cooper Union in New York City where he received the 2003 Gelman Trust Fellowship Award. Arsham's artistic journey began with photography after he received a camera from his grandfather at the age of 12. An affinity for photography sparked his interest in architecture, painting and other fields which led him to becoming a multidisciplinary artist.
Before he became a celebrated artist, Arsham collaborated with several brands. Despite being criticised by people in the art world, Arsham believes that his art is for everyone and working with brands has helped him reach more people. Straddling the realm of art and commerce, Arsham is sought-after by luxury and streetwear brands around the world from Porsche, Hublot and Moët & Chandon to Stussy, Adidas and Kith.
Daniel Arsham.
His first immersive presentation in Thailand, "Bangkok 3024" is on display at Excavation, level G, Passage, level 1 (BTS link to Phloen Chit Station), and Artifacts at Level G.
The Excavation site appears as a surreal Zen Garden, complete with raked sand paintings and dramatic blue walkways intersected by what seems to be concrete walls. People can walk through holes in these walls and experience five of Arsham's signature eroded artefacts -- Stormtrooper: Amethyst Crystallized Figure (2023); Bronze Eroded Dog With Hat (2021); Bronze Eroded Delorean 1:3 (2021); Amalgamized Venus Italica (2022); and Blue Calcite Crystallized Jumping Pikachu (2021). The sculptures depict decaying artefacts with crystal-studded cavities and lines and traces of deterioration.
Arsham recently spoke about "Bangkok 3024" at the Park Hyatt Bangkok.
What inspired you to do fictional archaeology?
So much of our experience is governed by time. A lot of my work is about investigating how we perceive our place within time. Many of the works at Central Embassy are contemporary objects that look as if they are in a future archaeological museum and they play with our understanding of time.
Is there any special reason you collaborated with Central Embassy?
We have been talking about it for a couple of years and trying to find the right time when I could bring several works. We also had to come up with ideas that would do justice to the space.
How does the concept of fictional archaeology guide the exhibition 'Bangkok 3024'?
One of them is an installation we put through a broken wall and within that, there are a couple of different individual sculptures, some of which are related to the fictional archaeology idea. There is another work, Venus, which is new material but with variations. Half of it is patina bronze which looks like a work from antiquity and the other half is polished stainless steel which makes it look like from the future.
Bronze Eroded Dog With Hat.
Were there any details you found interesting while working on 'Bangkok 3024'?
It is a unique space because it is open to all floors, so visitors are able to see works from different perspectives. Certainly, this was considered in the design of the project. You enter and see this portal and though it looks solid, it is actually composed of individual frames. Also, you get a different perspective looking from top to bottom.
Can you tell us more about the five pieces in the exhibition?
This is the first time that I have shown work in Thailand. I know that I have a very big audience here, so bringing works from different periods for one exhibition was a unique thing for me. I brought works from Pokémon and Star Wars and there are a couple of bronze works as well, so various materials are explored.
Can you elaborate more on the creative process behind transforming Central Embassy's BTS link? What were the technical and artistic challenges involved?
I went through the different ideas that we discussed, some of which were logistically challenging. We had to construct a fictional space that is open every day, so all the work had to be done at night. You will notice that the walls are not connected to anything and they stand on their own, which made them into sculpture objects in a way.
Amalgamized Venus Italica.
What is your all-time favourite piece?
Often when I am working in the studio, the outcome isn't known beforehand. Every new work is a favourite when it is being created.
Your works often bridge the past, present and future. What message do you hope to convey about cultural persistence or evolution?
I think there is no particular message. The works provoke different feelings about our relationship with time. Seeing an object from your own life as existing a thousand years in the future can have a profound feeling. It can be a light or heavy feeling, so it's really about this idea.
Your work centres around the concept of time. Why is this concept important to you?
I think it's just a childhood fascination with science fiction and space travel. Those things were the initial introduction to it. There is so much in our experience governed by time, and these things define how we experience life.
Blue Calcite Crystallized Jumping Pikachu.
What is the difference between working under your own name compared to working with a brand?
In many ways, the approach for me is quite similar. Whether working on a painting, architecture or a car, design applies to all of them. It keeps things interesting in the studio. I am not only working in one particular medium.
If you were to inspire someone who wants to become an artist, what would you recommend?
Patience. It takes a lot of time.
"Bangkok 3024" runs at Central Embassy, Phloenchit Road, until July 14. Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/centralembassy.
Stormtrooper: Amethyst Crystallized Figure.
