Art revives old community in Bangkok’s historical neighbourhood

reader · October 27, 2022

From Channel News Asia

An old pagoda inside The Artist's House. (Photo: CNA/Pichayada Promchertchoo)

Once part of the Kamphaeng Bangchak temple ground, the old pagoda has become an architectural centrepiece of The Artist’s House since it was opened to the public in 2009.

The space is dedicated to art and offers a platform for artists to create and showcase their work – from paintings to sculptures, woodcut prints and performances.

Visitors can also enjoy drinks from its small cafe, browse around its shop and gallery, or simply relax in the building and soak up the slow life by the water.

By making art easily accessible to the public, its founders hope the presence of visitors in Klong Bang Luang will breathe life into the declining community and help preserve its traditional way of life along the canal before it vanishes.

“We thought if businesses could be created here, people wouldn’t have to go far to find jobs. They could just stay here and that would be nice,” said Chumpol Akkapantanon, an artist and founder behind The Artist’s House or Ban Silapin, as it is locally known.

In front of him, a silver bird sculpture rests near the base of the pagoda. The contemporary art and remnants of the past stand side by side in a lush green space behind the two-storey teak house, which once belonged to an old family of goldsmiths and traders.

Back in 2007, Chumpol led a renovation project that transformed their dilapidated dwelling into an art space.

At that time, he recalled, the community was quiet and decrepit. Boats and waterways had been taken over by cars and roads and many residents had left their wooden houses by the canal for new accommodation and careers downtown.

Those who remained were mostly the elderly, including Prapai Raksamruad, then in her late sixties. She was the last family member to live in the run-down building where The Artist’s House stands today.“She wanted to sell the house to someone who wouldn’t destroy but restore it,” Chumpol recounted.

“The house was out of shape. Everything was decaying. Nobody would want to buy it and she was living there alone. It was so miserable and depressing. I was thinking how I could help her because selling it would be hard.”

Continues with more photos at

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-bangkok-artist-house-klong-bang-luang-2982476

Getting there: The closest BTS Skytrain Station to the Artist’s House is Bang Wa. From there, visitors can either walk about 20 minutes or get a motorbike taxi to their final destination.