MORE INFORMATION

  1. WHAT IS “KRUNG THEP CREATIVE STREETS”?

Krung Thep Creative Streets is a programme initiated by the French Embassy in Thailand with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Alliance Française Bangkok, the Creative Economy Agency, the Goethe Institute, the British Council, along with the embassies of Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal and Spain, and involving many Thai partners in the field of Arts and Heritage. It illustrates the relationship between Europe and Thailand through an original approach.

Organized as part of the European Heritage Days, it highlights historic buildings and creative neighbourhoods of Bangkok (Charoen Krung, Talat Noi, Song Wat, South Sathorn, Surawong, Lumphini) by linking them with new murals from local and international artists. The programme was launched on 3 September at the Danish Embassy, current EU presidency, which also announced its Sathorn wall as a public mural site. It will culminate on 20 and 21 September with heritage buildings exceptionally open to visitors, offering a dialogue between memory and creation, tradition and modernity, while showcasing the long-standing cultural exchanges between Europe and Thailand.

  1. WHAT ARE THE EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS?

Heritage Days were created in France in 1984 on the initiative of the Ministry of Culture to enable the general public to discover historical, cultural and architectural sites that are usually closed to the public. It is a free event open to all, with the aim of raising awareness among citizens of the importance of preserving heritage. This initiative is part of a broader cultural policy implemented by the French Ministry of Culture since the 1980s, which aims to make art and culture accessible to as many people as possible. The success of this initiative quickly spread beyond France's borders: in 1991, it evolved into European Heritage Days, celebrated each year in several European countries. These days showcase Europe's cultural and historical wealth and promote exchanges around our shared heritage.

  1. WHY DO WE CELEBRATE THEM IN BANGKOK?

Bangkok, a vibrant and cosmopolitan capital for more than 240 years, continues a long history of contact between Siam and Europe. From the mid-16th century, Europeans sought trade in Asia: the Portuguese established relations in 1511, and the Dutch opened a trading post in Ayutthaya in 1608. Under King Narai (1656–1688), ties with France grew strong; in 1685, King Louis XIV sent Chevalier de Chaumont as the first French ambassador, whose 340th anniversary is celebrated this year.

After the capital moved to Bangkok in 1782, European presence expanded: Portugal opened the first embassy in 1820, treaties under Rama IV secured Siam’s independence, and Charoen Krung Road was built at the heart of the European community. Rama V’s reign transformed Bangkok into a modern city, with Europeans contributing to tramways, railways, canals, education, and architecture.

This European heritage remains visible today in Bangkok’s urban fabric, reflecting centuries of Thai–European ties. It has been highlighted on several occasions during the European Heritage Days, organized by the European Embassies in Thailand in collaboration with the European Delegation and the EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) cluster, and continues to inspire ongoing cooperation between Thailand and the European Union.

  1. WHY THIS 2025 EDITION INVOLVES STREET ART ?

Street art has become a defining feature of Bangkok’s cultural life, especially in Charoen Krung and Talat Noi, where walls and facades have turned into open-air galleries. Born in the 1990s with student tags and signatures, the movement quickly evolved into bold graffiti, then into figurative murals featuring iconic characters such as Alex Face’s three-eyed child — now emblematic of Thai urban art.

A distinctive trait of Bangkok’s scene is the longevity of its murals: unlike in Europe, works are rarely painted over. Respect between artists, combined with an ever-expanding city full of walls to paint, allows pieces such as Roa’s elephants (Bukruk 2013) to endure for years, becoming local landmarks and part of the city’s identity.

Street art here is not just decoration but living memory — tags, collages and murals speaking directly to passersby, blending fantasy, poetry and social reflection. Artists like Alex Face, Rukkit, Sheet, Cider, and Poyd1 have made Bangkok a unique arena where creativity and heritage intertwine.

This dynamic has been amplified by major festivals. Bukruk I (2013) brought together 27 Thai and European artists to transform iconic sites like Siam Square and BACC; Bukruk II (2016) expanded into performances and workshops, drawing large audiences. In 2018, the French Embassy launched Streets – Urban Culture Highlight with the Franco-German Cultural Fund, further strengthening Thai–European collaborations.

Building on this momentum, Krung Thep Creative Streets continues to affirm street art as both a cultural bridge and a lasting marker of Bangkok’s urban identity.

  1. WHICH HERITAGE SITES ARE PART OF THE PROGRAM?

On Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September, visitors will have the opportunity to discover or rediscover heritage sites that are not always open to the general public. No fewer than 25 locations will be participating.

On Saturday, 12 venues will be open to the public in Charoen Krung and Talat Noi:

On Sunday, 11 venues will be open to the public in Lumphini, Surawong, and Sathorn:

  1. WHO ARE THE STREET ART PAINTERS?

Alex Face - THAILAND

Courtesy of Mc Suppha-riksh Phattrasitthichoke

Alex Face (Patcharapol Tangruen, b.1981) is one of Thailand’s most renowned graffiti and street artists, living and working mainly in Bangkok. A graduate of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, he is best known for his iconic character Mardi—a three-eyed child often dressed in a worn rabbit costume, inspired by the birth of his daughter. Painted across public spaces, Mardi embodies innocence, vulnerability, and anxiety, provoking reflection on the challenges of modern urban life and the fragile world the next generation will inherit. His murals, found in Bangkok and abroad, combine playfulness with social critique, making Alex Face a central figure of contemporary Thai street art.

Waris_MSV - THAILAND

Waris is a pioneering female street artist in Thailand and a core member of the renowned MSV crew, active for nearly a decade. She began painting in 2014 while studying in Chiang Mai and has since dedicated herself to breaking barriers in a predominantly male field. Her vibrant, portrait-based murals often feature female figures and serve as powerful symbols of women’s strength, resilience, and courage—her artistic mission is to bring art into communities and share positive energy beyond the confines of galleries. Today, her work is recognized as an important voice in shaping the future of Thai street art.

Gong Klomklieng - THAILAND

Gong Klomklieng is a Thai street artist from Ratchaburi, known for his socially conscious works created using stencils, spray paint and acrylics. A graduate of Silpakorn University in Bangkok, he worked in advertising and graphic design before devoting himself fully to urban art. His critical style addresses themes such as justice, freedom and social inequality. He participated in the 2013 and 2016 editions of the Bukruk Urban Arts Festival and has collaborated with international artists. His murals, particularly in the Khlong Ong Ang neighbourhood of Bangkok, challenge viewers to consider contemporary social issues.

Luckyleg - THAILAND

Luckyleg (Sippakorn Chinklang) is a Thai street artist whose name comes from a university nickname after a leg injury. A graduate of Silpakorn University, he works across street art, painting, sculpture, and digital media, using satire and irony to address social, political, and historical issues. Since 2015, his work has appeared in solo and group shows, including “Fake Advertising” at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. Whether on city walls or in galleries, his bold, pop-inspired visuals challenge authority and invite critical reflection.

Romain Froquet - FRANCE

French visual artist Romain Froquet explores the interactions between matter, movement, and spirituality. His work is characterized by the use of organic, fluid, and intertwined lines that seem to follow a natural rhythm. Through repetitive curves, he seeks to represent the invisible bonds that unite individuals with each other and their environment, whether it be a large mural in an urban neighborhood or a canvas exhibited in a gallery. His compositions, both soothing and energetic, reflect a constant search for connections and movement.

Olivia de Bona - FRANCE 

Known for her murals and illustrations, Olivia de Bona is a French visual artist. Her work explores themes of intimacy, femininity, and nature, blending bold graphic elements often inspired by the plant and animal worlds. Her art is both a reflection on the human condition and an exploration of the mysterious beauty of the natural world. Through her creations, she invites us to contemplate the invisible relationships that unite living beings and their environment, while addressing universal themes with a touch of unique sensitivity.

Seb Toussaint - FRANCE

Seb Toussaint created his first works as a teenager with Malherbe Normandy Kop, a group of football fans from his hometown. At the same time, he began painting graffiti on the streets of his region. Following a round-the-world bike trip during which he perfected his art on the walls of the countries he visited, he created the Share the Word project. As part of this project, he created more than 200 murals depicting words suggested by residents of different countries. These words also serve as the basis for his work on canvas. In 2023, he joined the collections of the Musée de l'Impressionnisme in Giverny.

Myrtille Tibayrenc - FRANCE & THAILAND

Director of the Toot Yung Art Center since 2008, Myrtille Tibayrenc has made a name for herself with her unconventional curatorial projects and, more recently, her work as an artist following her remarkable debut at the Serindia Gallery in Bangkok in 2017. Since then, she has exhibited regularly in unusual venues and renowned spaces in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Co-founder of the Bukruk Festival (2013 and 2016), Myrtille Tibayrenc has been invited this year to paint her first street mural, as a nod and a thank you for her years of supporting the expansion of street art in Bangkok, and as an invitation to step outside the usual canvas.

Linda Steiner - AUSTRIA 

Linda Steiner, born in 1993 in East Tyrol, moved to Vienna in 2012 to pursue her studies in art. She spent two years at “die Graphische,” where she was first introduced to working on large-scale formats. Her artistic practice focuses on the exploration of self-perception and how individuals are perceived by others, with a particular emphasis on the female experience. Alongside her large-scale public artworks, Steiner also maintains a studio practice that encompasses painting, illustration, sculpture, and ceramics.

Christian Storm - DENMARK

Christian Storm is a self-taught Danish graffiti artist from Copenhagen who has been creating art since 1992. His fascination with architectural styles such as Brutalism and minimalism has influenced his evolution as an artist. Storm’s early work was heavily influenced by the classic graffiti style, characterized by bold, colorful lettering and stylized images. He is currently located in Seoul, South Korea, where his work spans both gallery exhibitions and public art installations, blending urban aesthetics and architectural precision

FGB - UNITED KINGDOM

FGB (François Got Buffed) is a self-taught street artist based in Belfast, known for his vibrant, bold murals that blend social commentary and humor. Inspired by pop art, urban culture, and classic cartoons, he has been creating expressive public artworks for over two decades. In 2020, he left his office job to focus fully on painting, illustration, and graphic design. His colorful, often satirical creations invite reflection while enlivening urban spaces, leaving a lasting mark on the streets he transforms. FGB’s work continues to push the boundaries of street art, exploring new techniques and engaging diverse audiences.

Carolina Adan Caro - SPAIN 

Carolina Adán Caro is a Spanish artist born in Madrid in 1984, with a degree in Fine Arts from the Complutense University. Based in Palma de Mallorca since 2008, she devotes herself entirely to portrait painting, specialising in watercolour, oil and acrylic. In 2019, she founded the ‘Art is Life’ project, which aims to make art accessible to everyone in public spaces. Her murals, created using stencils, ink or acrylics, explore themes such as love, freedom and the human condition, inviting passers-by to reflect and engage in conversation.

Martin Claude (aka Image) - FRANCE

Martin Claude (aka Image) is a graffiti artist who has been active since 1998 as a member of the UNO Crew and DFS Crew collectives. Specialising in characters, landscapes and colour schemes, he has participated in numerous street art festivals in France and Europe, notably in Bagnolet, Charleroi and Niort. His career spans several fields: ten years in animation and special effects, followed by ten years as a set designer at the Théâtre du Soleil. Martin Claude explores several mediums, between collective murals, drawings, travel journals and sculpture (using wood, metal or papier-mâché), always seeking to develop a recognisable, spontaneous and colourful narrative expression.

Laurent Avril (aka LOAV) - FRANCE & THAILAND

Laurent Avril (aka LOAV) practices visual communication by using his unique capacity to think beyond limitations to discover new possibilities. His art is an immersive journey between terrain observation and imagination. He develops his cartoon characters through drawing, painting, animation, graffiti, and 3D, using both traditional and digital techniques. Humoristic, scratchy, spontaneous, and childlike, his drawings offer multiple facets of interpretation, inviting the audience to break out from normal behavior. After 25 years as a graphic designer in Paris, he now lives and works in Bangkok.

Stian Borgen - NORWAY

Stian Borgen (b.1984, Tønsberg) is a Norwegian visual artist rooted in graffiti and neo-expressionism. His work deconstructs forms—often starting with the human head—through bold, gestural painting that balances raw energy and refinement. Deeply shaped by his dyslexia, he explores visual language as a means of communication beyond text. Highlighted by art critic Tommy Olsson as “a force of nature” and among Norway’s artists to watch, Borgen has exhibited widely, from Art Basel Miami (2019) to Van Der Plas Gallery, New York (2020) and Østfold Kunstsenter (2024). Known for transforming industrial sites into art spaces, he is also a member of the Norwegian Visual Artists Association (NBK) and Østfold Visual Artists (ØBK).