BACC and The National Museum, Bangkok: A Gateway to the mythic Thai Culture

For ages, Thailand has been a country which has been serenading tourists because of it’s colours, rituals, silken touches and a mythic culture which envelops people in a shroud of curiosity. 2 centers in Bangkok now let you assimilate the genesis of Thai culture in it’s entirety: Bangkok Art and Culture Center (BACC) and The National Museum. With marketing dollars being generously granted by the local and national governments, these places are now garnering eyeballs and figure prominently in tourist itineraries even before people have boarded one of the many flights to bangkok.

BACC is a contemporary, modernistic setting where ensembles of Thai Culture in chronological order of evolution. It comprises of numerous mini art-galleries which feature art forms dating back to the ancient past and sways across major milestones in Thai cultural roadmaps, depicted by paintings and stone structures which let you map the evolution. In a small section of BACC, you can see artisans carve out a living for themselves. These artisans stay inside the premises and indulge in their craftsmanship, allowing you to soak the environment by having a cheery conversation with them while they continue their work. Periodic, contextual events like film festivals and symposiums depicting issues of current national interest make this place move out of the conventional museum-like feel and lend a touch of the center being in sync with the times.

The National Museum is another gateway for a peep into the Thai cultural schema. There is a certain randomness in the way properties are arranged inside the museum but it is precisely this randomness which makes a visit to the museum worth every penny, for you are never sure of what would turn up next. It is a composite mix of paintings (all types of paintings feature here: acrylic, oil and watercolour), statues, sculptures, graffiti and murals. Though there are certain facets where the museum can up it’s ante like proper labeling of the different forms, all in all the National Museum is an enlightening and enchanting experience.

BACC and The National Museum are the pivots around which people gather an understanding of the Thai culture. The governments increase their maintenance, upkeep and advertising spend year-on-year signaling an intent to make them places of immense importance and interest for tourists. Every year, new additions to these places in forms of art works keep the interest and buzz alive amongst both natives and tourists. In case you still have not been to these marvels, make sure that these places deserve a mention in your “To-do list” way before you have alighted of one of the many flights to bangkok