Ader was a prominent Dutch artist in the contemporary art world. He studied art and worked in Los Angeles before disappearing in the Atlantic Ocean in 1975 while sailing a small boat from the United States to Europe as part of his artistic trilogy, In Search of the Miraculous.
"Bright at Midnight" marks the first institutional presentation of Ader's artworks in not only Thailand but also the whole Asia. The exhibition features three masterpieces created between 1970 and 1975: Thoughts unsaid, Then forgotten; Light vulnerable objects threatened by eight cement bricks; and Launch of the Ocean Wave. Two major installations have been reinterpreted through site-specific elements or the context of Bangkok Kunsthalle and its surroundings. As part of the exhibition, archival footage documenting Ader's preparations for In Search of the Miraculous will also be screened publicly for the first time.
Across these works, simple gestures and materials become charged with vulnerability, disappearance, expectation, and uncertainty. This art event truly invites viewers to consider what it means for these works to become active again in a different time and place—not simply through the reproduction of objects, but through the re-enactment of the conditions that gave them meaning.
Presented within the unfinished architecture of Bangkok Kunsthalle, the works encounter another "City of Angels": Bangkok, or Krung Thep. Light and darkness, gravity and levity, vulnerability and control move between Los Angeles and Bangkok, and between the 1970s and the present.
On 14 October 2026, visitors can explore the concepts and perspectives behind Ader's works during a conversation with Dal Colle, the curator, at 5:30 PM, and then attend the opening reception from 6:00 PM onwards.
Featured Works
Thoughts unsaid, Then forgotten - An art installation comprising oil stick, tripod, clamp light, flowers, and vase.
Light vulnerable objects threatened by eight cement bricks - An art installation comprising eight concrete blocks, ropes, and various other objects.
Launch of the Ocean Wave - A film shot on Super 8 and transferred to digital format, with a running time of 6 minutes 39 seconds.
Exhibition Information: Bright at Midnight
Artist: Bas Jan Ader
Curator: Leonardo Orion Dal Colle
Duration: 14 October 2026 - 10 January 2027
Venue: Bangkok Kunsthalle on Pantachit Alley. It will be open from Wednesday to Sunday, 2:00-8:00 PM. (closed on Monday and Tuesday).