Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA BANGKOK)

"The Erawan Shrine, formally known as the Thao Maha Phrom Shrine, is located in the Ratchaprasong intersection in central Bangkok, near the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel and the BTS Chit Lom Station. It houses a statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. While the shrine's primary religious association is with Hinduism, it has become an important symbol of Thai spiritual practice, with many visitors from different faiths seeking blessings for prosperity, protection, and good fortune. The shrine was built in 1956, following a series of misfortunes during the construction of the Erawan Hotel, which were attributed to bad karma from laying the hotel's foundation on an astrologically inauspicious date. To counteract the negative influence, an astrologer advised the creation of the shrine, and a Brahma statue was installed. The hotel construction proceeded without further issues after the shrine was erected. The Erawan Hotel was eventually demolished in 1987 and replaced by the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, but the shrine remained a central feature of the area. In 2006, the shrine became the focal point of national attention when it was vandalized by a man named Thanakorn Pakdeepol. The statue of Brahma was destroyed, leading to widespread public outcry. An identical statue was placed at the shrine in May 2006, constructed from a mix of gold, bronze, and other precious metals. The new statue also incorporated fragments from the original. The shrine has also been a site of tragedy: on August 17, 2015, a bombing near the shrine killed 20 people and injured 125 others, an attack believed to be linked to political tensions over Thailand's deportation of Uyghur refugees. Despite the tragedy, the shrine was swiftly repaired and reopened, though the bombing remains a sensitive issue in Thai political discourse. In 2020, health and environmental concerns led to a ban on the traditional practice of lighting incense and candles at the shrine."

"MOCA BANGKOK has been purposely built to showcase and exhibit the exceptional works of art collected over the past three decades by Boonchai Bencharongkul, whose passion for art runs deep. The museum is also intended as a tangible sign of appreciation for the many great favours bestowed upon the Thai people by our beloved monarch, King Rama IX, and is dedicated to the honour of Professor Silpa Bhirasri, the “Father of Contemporary Art” in Thailand"

"Great place for all the arty lovers, although it is a bit out of the city"