On a treasure hunt

Bangkok, Thailand. — On their trip to Asia, Winfried Vogt and Christina Paap from artefantastisch.de set out on an extraordinary treasure hunt: The two art enthusiasts explored the region's famous floating markets to search for new artistic treasures between exotic goods and traditional stalls.

What is normally known as a colorful hub for fruit, spices and handicrafts revealed itself on this day as a lively open-air gallery. Between brightly painted boats, fragrant food and the tangle of voices from the dealers, Vogt and Paap discovered a surprisingly diverse selection of creative works of art — many of them handmade, regionally rooted and full of cultural symbolism.

The floating markets thus became a place where tradition and contemporary forms of expression meet. The variety of works ranged from finely painted coconut shells to filigree miniature sculptures to modern illustrations printed on rice fibers. Some artists even presented their pieces directly from the boat and told the stories behind their creations in the meantime.

“The markets are like a lively studio,” say Vogt and Paap. “You just have to look closely — among all the colors and smells, you'll find art that you won't find in any gallery. We were deeply impressed by the authenticity and creativity we found here. ”

During their treasure hunt, the two made new contacts with local artists and were able to secure several works that will also be presented on artefantastisch.de in the future. The trip gave them new perspectives on the combination of everyday culture and artistic expression.