Bangkok Art Biennale 2024: Step into a visionary solo showcase by Taiwan’s Cole Lu

"...Nova Contemporary, a gallery in the heart of Ratchadamri, has announced the solo exhibition “The Engineers” by Taiwanese artist Cole Lu as part of the Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB 2024): Nurture Gaia, held from 24 October 2024 to 25 February 2025. This work features two large-scale, free-standing doors burned from Neem (Sao Dao) wood and linen, installed in the abbot's library at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, inspired by the endless cycle of birth and decay..."

The Engineers, a solo exhibition by Taiwanese artist Cole Lu, showcased at the Abbot's Museum and Library of Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, a premier royal temple built in the mid-19th century. The temple's architecture blends Thai, Chinese, Khmer, and European influences and houses Thailand’s first Buddhist university, making it a rich source of historical learning. This solo exhibition is part of the Bangkok Art Biennale 2024, Nurture Gaia, an international contemporary art festival held every two years. This year, the event features artworks from 76 leading artists of 39 nationalities worldwide. The Engineers is a sculpture of two large doors crafted from neem wood and fire-treated linen.

Cole Lu challenges the concept of engineers as architects of humanity, exploring the origins of social inequality. Inspired by the endless cycle of birth and decay, Lu uses fire to shape the work's form and expression. Drawing from historical documents, religious texts, mythology, and ancient artifacts, the artist delves into the roots of storytelling to examine themes of time travel, memory, and the idea of home.

The exhibition “The Engineers” is supported by the Cultural Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand, Bangkok Kunsthalle, and Holiday Tours. Cole Lu also served as an artist-in-residence at Bangkok Kunsthalle, where the artworks for this exhibition were created.

Also See: Experience a unique artistic journey at the 'Colors' Exhibition at CURU Gallery