Giving Life, or ชีวิต ชีวา, is the new museum-wide exhibition at Dib Bangkok, running from 26 September 2026 to 3 May 2027. Six artists approach life not as a fixed biological fact but as something projected onto machines, images, bodies and objects. The result is less a single argument than a set of encounters that move between playfulness, unease and close observation.
The exhibition features Bassim Al Shaker, Izumi Kato, Nawin Nuthong, Paul Chan, Rachel Youn and other participating voices presented through the museum programme. Visitors do not need specialist art history to engage with it. A little time, a willingness to look twice and space for disagreement are more useful than trying to decode every work immediately.
What the title suggests
Giving Life asks what happens when an artwork appears to breathe, move, stare back or carry a personality. Machines can animate artificial flowers, painted figures can feel uncannily present and ordinary materials can suggest ritual or memory. The title is active: life is given, borrowed and sometimes performed.
Rather than searching for one definition, notice who or what seems to have agency in each room. Does the work move, or do you move around it? Does humour make an unsettling idea easier to approach? These questions create a productive route through very different practices.
Meet the artists
Bassim Al Shaker’s practice is shaped by memory and lived experience, while Izumi Kato is known for humanoid figures that resist simple identity. Paul Chan moves between drawing, installation and conceptual systems. Their works reward attention to materials as much as subject matter.
Rachel Youn combines second-hand devices with artificial plants, giving repetitive motion a strange emotional charge. Nawin Nuthong works with contemporary media and cultural references. Read wall text after an initial look, then return to the work with that context rather than letting the label replace the experience.
How long to allow
Set aside at least two hours for the exhibition and public spaces. Visitors who want James Turrell’s Straight Up installation or a scheduled programme should allow longer and check booking requirements. Gallery capacity can affect entry at popular times.
Do not attempt to photograph every object. Choose a few works that hold attention and spend several minutes with each. Sketching notes or recording a short voice memo after leaving a gallery can preserve the experience without turning the visit into a documentation exercise.
Architecture matters
Dib Bangkok occupies a converted warehouse in Khlong Toei. Curves, ramps, voids and the sculpture courtyard create pauses between enclosed galleries. The route is part of the visit, especially when light and weather change the outdoor works.
Follow access signs and ask staff about lifts or seating when needed. Limited basement parking is available, with an additional parking building around five minutes away. Visitors with mobility requirements should contact the museum before the trip to confirm the easiest route.
Tickets and timing
Advance online booking is recommended because walk-in admission depends on capacity. Register at the information desk within the reserved time slot. Tickets cannot be transferred, refunded or exchanged, so check the date and number of visitors carefully before paying.
Current museum hours should be reconfirmed at booking because programme pages can reflect different seasonal schedules. Galleries close before the building itself. Wednesday has been listed as a closure day on the current contact information, so never rely on a general map listing alone.
Getting there
The museum is at 111 Soi Sukhumvit 40, Phra Khanong, Khlong Toei. BTS Ekkamai is about an 18-minute walk or a short drive. The route is exposed in places, so heat and rain can make a taxi from the station more comfortable.
Drivers can approach from Rama IV Road or Sukhumvit Soi 40. On-site parking is limited. Save the address in Thai and allow time to find the entrance, especially when arriving for a timed programme.
A thoughtful visit
Photography rules can differ by artwork. Check signs, turn off flash and keep distance from installations. Do not touch moving pieces even when their motion feels inviting. Children can enjoy the exhibition, but adults should supervise around equipment and quiet rooms.
Giving Life is strongest when the visit remains open-ended. Compare reactions after leaving the galleries, use the courtyard as a pause and resist the pressure to agree. Contemporary art often becomes memorable precisely where certainty breaks down.
Keep exploring
Continue with related TFT coverage, browse more Thailand guides and compare the latest TFT recommendations.
Common questions
How long does Giving Life run?
The exhibition is listed from 26 September 2026 through 3 May 2027.
Should I book in advance?
Yes. Advance booking is recommended because walk-in entry depends on gallery capacity.
Where is Dib Bangkok?
The museum is at 111 Soi Sukhumvit 40 in Khlong Toei, Bangkok.