The word ‘Kalpa’ as used in the concept name ‘Eternal Kalpa’ is the Thai word กัลป์ (pronounced ‘Gun’) for ‘eternity’ ‒ thus making the fully translated campaign name ‘Eternal Eternity’.
Presiding over the awareness-raising event at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, Ministry of Culture Permanent Secretary Prasop Riangngen emphasised the festival’s role in showcasing the depth of Thai creativity while positioning Phuket as a sustainable creative city.
“This event is not only about art ‒ it’s about using cultural capital to stimulate the economy, inspire the youth and build global connections,” Mr Prasop said.
The Thailand Biennale, Phuket 2025 is scheduled to run from November 2025 to April 2026. It will feature works by 65 artists from Thailand and around the world.
So far, 56 artists have been confirmed, with nine more to be selected ‒ five of whom will be emerging talents from Southern Thailand.
The festival will offer these artists a platform to engage in cross-cultural collaboration and create site-specific works exploring themes of sustainability and the human-nature relationship.
Held under the theme ‘Eternal Eternity’, the festival reflects on the paradox of enduring love and inevitable change, using art as a tool to explore sustainability. Exhibition spaces will span all three districts of Phuket with 13 curated pavilions from Thai and international groups.
The launch event was attended by key cultural figures, including Kesorn Kamnerdpetch, Acting Director of the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC); Phuket Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai; renowned Thai national artist Chalermchai Khositphiphat; and David Teh, Artistic Director of the Thailand Biennale 2025.
The Ministry is drawing on lessons learned from previous editions of the Biennale, including the 2023 event in Chiang Rai, to ensure the Phuket edition’s success. Plans include academic and cultural programming, artist talks and educational outreach initiatives to broaden public engagement.
“This is a collective effort,” said Mr Prasop. “By bringing together artists, cultural organisations and local communities, we’re not just hosting an art event ‒ we’re building a future where art drives economic growth, tourism, and cultural pride.”
The Ministry of Culture envisions the Biennale as a key Soft Power tool to project contemporary Thai art to international audiences, generate economic opportunities, and inspire a new generation of Thai creatives, he added.