Art comes in countless forms, giving artists the freedom to unleash their creativity. But with that freedom often comes debate, like the recent uproar when murals were defaced by three vandals. To some, it was nothing more than destruction; to others, it was another expression of street art’s rebellious roots. Turning conflict into opportunity, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has rolled out a new campaign, offering blank walls across the capital for artists to make their mark.
The initiative couldn’t have come at a better time. Recently, the ‘Krung Thep Creative Streets project’, launched by the French Embassy with European and Thai partners to turn the capital into an open-air museum, faced an unexpected setback. Out of 15 commissioned murals, one on Charoen Krung Soi 30 by Spanish artist Carolina Adan Caro was defaced by three teenagers, igniting a citywide debate.
To some, the act was nothing more than vandalism, stripping away beauty and disrespecting the artist and the city. To others, it was just graffiti doing what it has always done – challenge rules and carve out its place in public space.
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt weighed in firmly, calling the act unacceptable: ‘Even though graffiti is considered a form of art, it must respect the works of others, respect the city and respect the place.’
One culprit has since been arrested, while two remain at large, but the conversation around wall art endures. At its core, it has always been tied to protest, rebellion and identity. Walls serve as both canvas and megaphone. Yet legally, permission from the wall owner is the deciding line: with it, it’s art; without it, it’s a crime.
By offering legal walls for artists to showcase their work, the BMA hopes to shift the narrative – protecting public art while still honouring street culture. Because in the end, the best walls aren’t meant to divide us, but to bring colour, stories and voices to the city.
If you’d like to be part of this campaign, you can sign up here. Wall owners will then choose the artists to bring their empty walls to life.