Iconic Siam Launches Art DNA Hub to Explore Thai Visual Arts

Iconic Siam, a world-class landmark on the Chao Phraya River and Global Hub of Art & Culture, is advancing support for Thailand's art community by launching the ART DNA HUB: Visual Arts Talent Development Hub in partnership with the National Research Council (NRC). This knowledge hub offers the public, students, artists, and enthusiasts the chance to explore the thinking processes and creative methods behind Thai artists' work through the "Art DNA" concept—essentially decoding the artistic DNA that shapes each artist's unique identity, approach, techniques, and skills before transmitting this knowledge systematically across generations.

The ART DNA HUB opening ceremony was presided over by Danuphon Punnakanat, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, alongside Professor Dr. Suphachai Pathumnakaul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation; Professor Dr. Sutthiporn Jitmitra, Chair of the Advisory Working Group for the Hub of Talents and Hub of Knowledge development; Dr. Wipharut Deaung, Director of the National Research Council; Sompon Pantong, Director of the Fine Arts Department at the Ministry of Culture; Manyachaya Daphuadee, Manager of the Arts Center at Iconic Siam; and numerous National Artists including Preechar Thawtong, Kamol Tat Sananchali, and Decha Warachun, along with participating artists and international artist networks.

The ART DNA HUB project aims to build a learning ecosystem connecting National Artists, skilled expert artists, contemporary artists across generations, and artist networks to facilitate knowledge exchange through collaborative creative processes. It will organize Art DNA Workshops to decode knowledge from artists' real experience, create a digital archive database for visual arts research and intergenerational knowledge transmission, and foster cooperation between domestic and international art networks. Under the framework of "decode–transmit–develop–advance," the hub seeks to develop visual arts professionals capable of generating new knowledge, advancing artistic innovation, and linking knowledge with design, technology, culture, and management disciplines to create economic and social value based on Thai cultural capital, while supporting the creative economy in line with national strategy and sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Visitors will experience learning through Art DNA Workshops, learning spaces, and interaction with over 60 artists including National Artists, contemporary artists, and artists from diverse disciplines who share their creative processes by decoding artistic heredity to develop concepts and advance contemporary works reflecting individual identity. The project will document knowledge and working processes throughout to create a database for future learning.