
EXHIBITION
ALEX FACE
WAVE PERIOD : KHAO LAK POP-UP
20–28 July 2024
WAVE PERIOD
is the space and time in between,
between the land and the sea,
wind currents and tides,
between the ripples of the wave crests,
stillness and movement.
While we’re just watching and noting the movement of the scenery,
through a painting that was suddenly drawn,
as time swirls until it becomes ripples,
in a vast space that makes us feel our own smallness.
BANGKOK CITYCITY GALLERY, in collaboration with The Board Factory, is pleased to announce an OFF-SITE project titled “WAVE PERIOD: KHAO LAK POP-UP” by renowned artist Alex Face. The exhibition will commence with a reception on Saturday, July 20, 2024, from 14:00 to 16:00 at The Board Factory in Khao Lak, Thailand, and will run until July 28, 2024, spanning multiple venues including The Board Factory, The Place Khao-Lak, Soul Friend and Spiritual Garden, and Baan Thung Kamin Children’s Library.
The exhibition’s title, “WAVE PERIOD: KHAO LAK POP-UP,” draws inspiration from surfing terminology. In surfing, “wave period” refers to the time interval between successive waves, with longer periods indicating more powerful and well-formed waves, which are favored by surfers. “Pop-up” denotes the swift maneuver surfers execute to transition from lying on the board to standing up, a critical skill for catching and riding waves. Alex Face’s “Wave Period” also symbolizes his immersion in Khao Lak’s surf culture, reflecting this experience through a series of artworks. The “Pop-Up” concept underscores the immediacy and spontaneity of sketching landscapes on surfboards with spray paint, capturing the essence of the local environment in a dynamic and ephemeral manner.
In 2021, Alex Face and his family relocated to Khao Lak, Phang Nga, finding a second home in the small seaside town of Khao Lak. His artworks from this period onward embody his profound connection to nature and the vibrant local communities, nurtured through his engagement with surfing. All new paintings in “WAVE PERIOD : KHAO LAK POP-UP,” whether on surfboard or canvas, were created onsite in Khao Lak, primarily along the road from his home to Memories Beach, Pakarang Cape and Nang Thong Beach, popular surfing spots. Some of these locales may undergo changes or vanish by the next high season.
Join us for an immersive experience that converges art, surfing, and the lively community of Khao Lak.
SELECTED WORKS



VIDEO
ARTIST
ALEX FACE
Born in 1981 in Chachoengsao, TH Lives and works in Bangkok
Alex Face (Patcharapon Tangruen) is a renowned Thai graffiti artist celebrated for his thought-provoking street art that transcends boundaries in Thailand and beyond. In 2009, inspired by his newfound fatherhood, he introduced a distinctive three-eyed, bunny-eared character symbolizing innocence and wonder. Known for his street art skills and mastery of European old masters’ techniques, Alex Face has seamlessly blended traditional and contemporary elements. In 2022, he marks two decades in the realms of street art and fine arts, leaving an indelible imprint on the urban landscape and art scene worldwide.