The Movement of Private Art Gallery and Art Dealing in Bangkok Metropolitan City during B.E. 2510-2519

Abstract

This article depicts the movement of private galleries and art dealing in Bangkok during the period of B.E. 2510-2519. It was found out that the establishment of Gallery 20 and Mekpayab Art Centre was the attempt of a group of artists and art patrons who helped create some space for expressing art and culture. Based on the salary rates of government officers and university lecturers art work, pricing criteria were determined. They tried to expand buyers prospective to include not only foreigners and elite groups. Meanwhile, most of commercial art galleries' customers were foreigners who were tourists and expats. Content and style of the art that revealed Thai clulture and tradition, Buddhism, or Thai beautiful scenery were popular among these customers who bought them as souvenirs. During that period, commercial galleries tried to find their selling points. At the same time, independent art dealers were mushrooming. Most importantly, Bhirasri Institute of Modern Art which represented the unity of the public and private sectors and artists were established with the policy to support creative work of art and culture. Meanwhile, commercial banks started to hold exhibitions and art contests, publicizing good images to society, enabling good relationship with art circles and providing a good chance of buying qullity work of art that won prizes awarded by knowledgeable persons without paying commission to art dealers or private galleries. Some art contest organizers set up the conditions of granting the work of art that won in the contest to the organizers. However, this practive was criticized as taking an advantage of buying the work of art at an inexpensive price. Nevertheless, the fame that the artists gain from the art contests also afrfected the determination of the artwork price in the art market. In addition, it provides a channel to exhibit and sell their art works at private galleries.