Afterdark
In collaboration with AsiaTOPA
Justin Shoulder, Amadiva
12 March 2025
21.00 - 23.30
Yogi Spicy Caf
*Full pass holders only
ABOUT
BIPAM's opening celebration in collaboration with AsiaTOPA, where we explore the rich relationship between nightlife and artistic expression. The evening begins with a casual conversation between AsiaTOPA's Artistic Director Jeff Khan and BIPAM's Artistic Director Sasapin Siriwanij, sharing their perspectives on nightlife as a space for creative development. The celebration continues with performances by AsiaTOPA's nightlife artist Justin Shoulder and Bangkok's own Amadiva, a pioneering theatre and drag artist who champions drag performance as a legitimate art form. As the night draws on, the atmosphere shifts to the sounds of a local DJ specially curated by Amadiva, bringing together diverse artistic expressions in this special gathering.
Justin Shoulder
Justin Talplacido Shoulder, also known as Phasmahammer, is a shape-shifting artist and storyteller working across performance, sculpture, video, and collective events. Their eco-cosmology of queered ancestral myth and handcrafted alter personas drive a metaphysical practice rooted in syncretic Future Folklore. As a founding member of The Glitter Militia and co-director of Club Ate, Shoulder has co-created politically charged, avant-garde events worldwide. Notable highlights include residencies at Palais de Tokyo, participation in the Prague Quadrennial, and commissions for NIRIN Sydney Bienalle and The National, AGNSW. In 2024 they co-birthed their newest performance work ANITO, co-commissioned by Sydney Festival, Rising Festival, MONA and Fusebox Festival Texas. https://phasmahammer.com/ https://www.insitearts.com.au/artists/justin-shoulder
photo by Alex Davies
Justin Talplacido Shoulder’s Afterdark performance
Produced by Insite Arts
Justin Talplacido Shoulder is assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
Amadiva
Amadiva is a Bangkok based drag, music, and theatre artist who’s pursuing the queer narrative though music and drag performance. Believing music is one of the best mediums to bring stories to people’s heart. She uses it to tell queer stories in all those sounds of laughter, tears, and dances the community did together as one.
MOLAM Night
NANG AI FAREWELL
Pachaya Akkapram, Khonkaen University
Performers
Aurawan Rungrueng
Ratchaneekorn Jantaharn
Pongsatorn Phutthakhot
Musicians
Artit Krajangsree
Apisit Sangrocha
Director
Pachaya Akkapram
In Partnership with Faculty of Fine Arts, Khon Kaen University
ABOUT
Molam, a traditional folk performance from Isan, is rooted in lam (ลำ), a melodic vocal storytelling style using the Isan dialect, accompanied by the khan (แคน), a bamboo flute.
Led by Pachaya Akkapram, a lecturer, researcher, and artist, this project reimagines Molam for modern audiences, who now gravitate molam toward live music more than staged performances. Inspired by the classic Isan tale Pha Daeng Nang Ai, "Nang Ai: Farewell" is the final installment in a trilogy that follows "The Story of Nang Ai" and "The Life and Love."
This version refines themes from previous productions, connecting the folk epic with the real-life experiences of Orawan Rungrueang, a 1995 Royal Trophy-winning Molam artist. Featuring young Isan performers and musicians, the performance blends Molam singing, movement, dance, and live music, offering a contemporary farewell to Nang Ai in all its emotional depth.
14 March 2025
21.00 - 22.00
Larb-Siab, Rooftop of Jim Thompson Art Center
*Non-BIPAM full pass pay 100 THB at door
Pha Daeng - Nang Ai
In the city of Suwannakhom, Thao Pha Daeng fell in love with the beautiful Nang Ai, daughter of Phaya Khom. With the help of a maid, he secretly visited her at the palace, and they fell in love. Phaya Khom then held a rocket festival, declaring that if Thao Pha Daeng’s rocket flew the highest, he could marry Nang Ai—but if Phaya Khom’s rocket won, the marriage would be denied. Thao Pha Daeng lost the competition. Meanwhile, Thao Phangkhi, son of the Naga king Suthona and Nang Ai’s lover in a past life, transformed into a squirrel to attend the festival but was captured by a hunter and given to Nang Ai to be cooked. When the townspeople ate the meat, an enraged King Suthona led an army to destroy the city, causing a massive flood. Thao Pha Daeng fled with Nang Ai, but she was dragged into the underworld by the Naga king. Back in his city, Thao Pha Daeng vowed to reunite with her, held his breath until he died, and fought the Nagas in the underworld. Seeing the chaos, Indra intervened, restoring balance—sending spirits back to their realm, Nagas to the underworld, and leaving Nang Ai waiting for her true love beneath the waters to this day.
