On the eve of Art Basel Hong Kong, art lovers on long-haul flights from all over the globe took a pit stop in Bangkok. The land of smiles melted cynically smug art dealers and collectors alike. Newish initiatives and soon-to-be-realized private museums tickle imaginations. Bangkok Kunsthalle, despite a modest 2024 debut, with abstract films by Michel Auder and a dark but Instagrammable installation by Korakrit Arunanondchai, now exhibits paintings, including rare works by Thai outsider ink practitioner Tang Chang and new colorful abstractions by Xie Fan. Word is the venue is looking for more partnerships, having mounted the latter show in collaboration with Xie Fan’s gallery, Marguo. In February, the Kunsthalle’s founder, Marisa Chearavanont, unveiled her Khao Yai Art Forest on 160 acres of untouched forested hills, which she envisions as Thailand’s Naoshima. Chearavanont is embracing ambitious land art projects, including a massive Louise Bourgeois spider (courtesy an indefinite loan from the Easton Foundation) and a hidden bar by Elmgreen and Dragset.