Chamchuri Art Gallery, Chulalongkorn University has been a model of non-profit art organization that is recognized in the art community in Thailand for over 20 years.  Numerous renowned Thai artists have had their works curated by the gallery in the past, including Prathang Emcharoen, Chavalit Soemprungsuk, Prateep Kochabua, Chuang Moolpinit, Somboon Hormtientong etc.

With 5,382 square-foot area divided into three exhibition halls, the gallery offers approximately 45 rotating exhibitions yearly without charge for both artists and visitors.  The gallery is situated in a prime Bangkok location directly on Phayathai Road, adjacent to a large MBK shopping mall.  It is conveniently accessible by public transportation and taxis, only seven minutes walk from National Stadium, and ten from Siam BTS Sky Train Stations.  There is also ample parking space for visitors arriving in personal vehicles.  Its location contributes to the regular flow of visitors all throughout the year.  The year 2018 saw 12,200 visitors; 12,900 in 2019.  Unfortunately, in 2020 the gallery was closed for six months due to the Covid-19 outbreak, therefore the number of visitors decreased to merely 6,500.  The gallery had been closed for visitors for the entire year of 2021.

During the normal operation of the gallery, applications for exhibitions are accepted during January to March.  Decisions are made according to the merit of works regardless of age, gender, political views, nationality or race. 

    • Despite the challenge cause by the pandemic in 2020-2021, Chamchuri Art Gallery adheres to its cause in being an art organization that help steer the society toward sustainable creativity, support Thai and international artists without seeking revenue.  The gallery moved the means to carry out its mission to online platforms and put in place Art Exhibitions Online @ Chamchuri Art Gallery to help generate income for artists without charges.  The following are some of the online exhibitions:

    1. “Crafts in the Air: An International Virtual Exhibition 2021”

    Chamchuri Art Gallery, in collaboration with Craft Product Development Research Unit, Office of Research Affairs, Chulalongkorn University, Department of Creative Arts, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University, and faculty members of universities outside Thailand, namely, Austin Wieland (LaGrange College, USA),  Ayşe Karabey Tekin (Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Turkey), Chuck Johnson (Edinboro University, USA),  Oya Asan Yuksel (Kütahya Dumlupınar University, Turkey) and Yuhki Tanaka (Saga University, Japan).

    All 104 submissions from 104 artists were divided into seven exhibition episodes on Youtube and Facebook with 71,000 views as of December 23, 2021.  Exhibition bulletin is in a form of E-book and can be downloaded by the public free of charge. 

    2. Other Online Exhibitions

    Chamchuri Art Gallery curated works by artists who were affected by Covid-19 and produced dedicated video exhibition for each and uploaded onto YouTube and Facebook.  The number of views as of December 23, 2021 was 913,000.  The following is a list of some of the exhibitions:

    • “Spreading Love” by Antonius Kho (Ubud, Indonesia)
    • “Women are always beautiful” by Chatkamol Chirawattana
    • “Remember Me.Try Your Best.Maybe We Can” by Akawit Chaikeaw And Papartpong Wanpakdee
    • Abstract Dialogue by Kamol Chaobangngam
    • (My) Aftershock by Ponthep Supunsaleekul
    • Reflections By Yupawadee Nisawaanutarapan
    • Neo-Kok by Worawut Suteeweerakajorn

    All online exhibitions can be accessed through: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyuS0r-5J9a3NU46xsQNQid3xmj8BABbd

    3. Dual-platform undertaking

    As Covid-19 transmission rate was lower, Chamchuri Art Gallery was able to reopen for visitors in normal operating hours.  However, works on online platform continued in a form of video interviews of artists whose exhibits were on exhibits in the gallery.  The videos are accessible on YouTube and Facebook.  The most heartwarming interview was an interview of the youngest artists to have their exhibition at Chamchuri Art Gallery.  The exhibition was called “Imagination spoken through color” by Wajana Chumpuang (“Hero” – 10 years old) and Keziah Chumpuang (“Winny”- 8 years old).  The older brother and younger sister grew up in a beautiful nature of Trang, a province in the South of Thailand, leading them to tell their stories and imagination through painting. 

    Chamchuri Art Gallery is the gallery of the university and the government that has been known to hold a high standard of curation by experts in the discipline.  It functions as a venue for students’ and faculty members’ art theses and works regardless of institutions, and artists of national, international, and professional levels.

    In terms of scholastic works and dissemination of body knowledge of the art, Chamchuri Art Gallery produces publications, lectures, discussions, and hands-on workshops as part of both in-depth studies and broader, more general art education for the public of all levels.  

    For general public, Chamchuri Art Gallery is a place of aesthetics to consume art in various forms and part of artistic and creative environment for Chulalongkorn University community and the society.

    Chamchuri Art Gallery is a testimony of Chulalongkorn University that, despite the university’s advancement in technology and science, it sustainably invests in promoting and support missions in humanity and social sciences, especially artistic creativities for more balanced members of the society.  

    Chamchuri Art Gallery, Chulalongkorn University

    Hours: Mondays to Fridays: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
    Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
    Closed on New Year’s Day and Songkran Day
    Map: https://goo.gl/maps/iehjnoTws12PfEzX7

    Gallery visitation fee: NONE
    Exhibition space rental fee: NONE

    Tel:  +662-218-3709
    Email: chamchuriartgallery@gmail.com
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chamchuriartgallery
    Website: http://www.chamchuriartgallery.chula.ac.th/

    Information on Chamchuri Art Gallery
    Thai: https://www.cuartculture.chula.ac.th/service/chamchuri-art-gallery/
    English: https://www.cuartculture.chula.ac.th/en/service/chamchuri-art-gallery/

    2021 Articles:
    Thai: https://www.cuartculture.chula.ac.th/article/5269/ https://www.cuartculture.chula.ac.th/article/5062/
    English: https://www.cuartculture.chula.ac.th/en/article/4621/ https://www.cuartculture.chula.ac.th/en/article/4384/