Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)

Opened in 2008, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) is a large and eclectic space that has become a mainstay in the city’s contemporary art scene. It’s very easy to access and well worth a visit whether you’re an aficionado coming to check out a specific exhibition or a casual passerby needing a break from the malls of Siam Square.

Spanning nine floors with 3,000 square metres of gallery space, BACC occupies a striking modern building that stands out even next to MBK and other huge shopping malls in the Siam Square vicinity. The interior is a collage of rounded corners and clean lines with escalators forming right angles as you ascend the spiralling tiers with a fully open centre.

Caution: Artists at work. Photo taken in or around Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), Bangkok, Thailand by David Luekens.

Caution: Artists at work. Photo: David Luekens

The lower three floors feature a mix of small galleries, shared studios, cafes (don’t miss Gallery Drip for coffee) and shops selling artsy gifts and books. You’ll also find large common areas where you can sit at a table to work or ask an artist to whip up your caricature. The always-evolving centre lacks a single clear focus, allowing different individuals to mold it to their own whims and interests.

Rotating photography exhibitions often cover sections of the circular walls and a large central space on the ground floor. We’ve been moved by black-and-white images of the persecuted Rohingya people of Burma, polaroids showing poignant street memorials to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and exquisite photos of flora and fauna from some of Thailand’s national parks.

You should have no difficulty finding the building. Photo taken in or around Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), Bangkok, Thailand by David Luekens.

You should have no difficulty finding the building. Photo: David Luekens

The upper floors host larger galleries with rotating exhibitions that are usually cheap or free to the public—you just have to leave cameras and bags at a counter before entering. From vintage photos of early Siam to contemporary paintings that push the boundaries of Thai social fabric, a very eclectic range of art is displayed. BACC is noteworthy for hosting the work of up-and-coming artists, and talks held in English and Thai provide guidance and inspiration.

We love the open, common feel of the space and how visitors can just rove around at will, popping into an exhibition before grabbing a coffee or meal and perusing the gift shops and art works that pop up around corners. It’s also hard not to take advantage of the location right next to the Skytrain.