A guided tour of museums and collectives offer unique perspectives into a city’s identity. Here are four worth trying around the network
1. Chiang Mai Street Art Explorer
Duration: Four hours
Travel mode: Cycling
Big Picture: About a decade ago, a new generation of younger artists, tired of Bangkok’s commercialism, moved here, bringing about a creative renaissance with graffiti art in Chiang Mai’s old section. This is the focal point of this easy guided tour by bike along flat back streets, led by experts on the local art scene.
Highlights: Look out for the large-scale mural of a long-necked Karen woman by Mexican artist Facte and a contemporary take on traditional Lanna-style paintings by an unknown artist on Sri Poom Si Soi 6 in the old city.
Price: THB1,250 (S$55)
2. Sophie’s Art Tour of Hanoi
Duration: Four hours
Travel mode: Walking
Big Picture: Led by art historian Sophie Hughes, this guided tour features local artists whose work reflects the struggles of their country’s people during the wars of independence and examines contemporary issues of identity, inequality and family in the digital age.
Highlights: The tour includes great bastions of tradition like the National Fine Arts Museum, as well as contemporary galleries and private collections. Along the way, Hughes introduces guests to artists and curators.
Price: US$75 dollars (S$101.60)
3. Street Art Tour in Kathmandu, Nepal
Duration: Four hours
Travel mode: Vespa scooters
Big Picture: Sitting on the back of a scooter with a rider-guide, guests take in a different side of Kathmandu – a flourishing street art scene that reflect the social upheavals and myriad experiences of Nepal’s younger generation.
Highlights: The city’s narrow and serpentine backstreets are best navigated by motorbike. Plus, this is a great starting point to explore creative projects such as Kolor Kathmandu and Artlab, both of which have provided funding and materials for street artists.
Price: US$125 (S$169.50)
4. The Matriarchs of Khmer Culture
Duration: 5 to 14 days
Travel mode: Buses and private vehicles
Big Picture: This guided tour focuses on the female dancers, musicians and artists of Cambodia who have helped to bring the country’s traditional arts back from the edge of extinction after the Khmer Rouge genocide.
Highlights: As a part of the itinerary, visitors will also immerse themselves in the environments that have inspired these artists, from the temples and street markets in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, to the coast-kissing towns of Kampot and Kep.
Price: Depends on length of these bespoke tours.
SEE ALSO: The Setouchi Triennale and the power of art and nature in Japan
This article was originally published in the August 2019 issue of Silkwinds magazine
