elmgreen & dragset's six-seat bar pavilion appears like a mirage in thai art forest

Elmgreen & Dragset bring intimate cocktail bar to thai art forest

Elmgreen & Dragset introduce K-BAR, a site-specific installation hidden deep within Thailand’s Khao Yai Art Forest. Like their 2005 Prada Marfa, the project explores displacement, introducing an urban typology within a remote natural setting. Opening on February 1st, 2025, the intimate pavilion, seating just six guests, pays homage to German artist Martin Kippenberger and his well-known love of alcohol.

On most days, visitors will encounter K-BAR as a sculptural entity, a charcoal-gray pavilion emerging from the dense forest like a mirage. However, those who arrive at the right moment will be guided through the darkened landscape to find the warm glow of the bar. The interior references classic metropolitan bars, with a stainless steel and dark wood counter, red leather stools, terrazzo flooring, and a backlit shelving display.

all images by Andrea Rossetti, courtesy of Khao Yai Art, unless stated otherwise

K-BAR’s interior echoes classic metropolitan bars

Open only once a month, the bar features a permanently installed Kippenberger painting from 1996, visible through a glass door even when the space is closed. This interplay between visibility and inaccessibility aligns with Elmgreen & Dragset’s concept of ‘denials’—sculptural works that appear functional yet resist immediate interaction. At the K-BAR, visitors can order from a menu curated by the artist duo in collaboration with a local mixologist, including drinks such as the Dry Martin, a nod to Kippenberger’s legacy.

Beyond its conceptual framework, the installation engages with contemporary cultural discourse. The decision to install a European painting in a remote Southeast Asian forest inverts traditional debates on the repatriation of looted artifacts, posing a provocative question: What if Western museums were required to send significant artworks to Asia in exchange for colonial-era objects in their collections?

the project explores displacement | image by Andrea Rossetti, courtesy of Galerie Max Hetzler

Khao Yai Art Forest introduces site-specific artworks

The Khao Yai Art Forest, founded by philanthropist and art patron Marisa Chearavanont, officially opens in February 2025 as a cultural destination where contemporary art and nature coexist. A key initiative within Khao Yai Art—alongside the Bangkok Kunsthalle—the forest welcomes site-specific artworks within its lush landscape, emphasizing the healing power of nature. With a commitment to organic farming and sustainability, the project fosters a deeper connection between art, ecology, and well-being, offering a rare opportunity to engage with art pieces in one of Thailand’s most pristine environments.

introducing an urban typology within a remote natural setting