Even though it’s been over a month, I still haven’t gotten over the excitement of being part of Mango Art Festival 2025. It was a huge milestone for my artistic journey, and being part of a festival like this came with so many benefits — from connecting with a diverse group of artists with unique ways of expressing themselves, to making new friends and exchanging ideas on art and beyond. I’d absolutely do it again. That said, I have to admit — it’s exhausting! Definitely not something I could handle every three months 🙂 MAF 25 ran for five days, which was incredible for exposure, but also quite demanding — especially for artists like me in smaller booths. There were 95 of us just on the ground floor, and I was in the Newcomer Zone, which was full of emerging talent with so much potential. It felt like a rare and valuable opportunity to be seen. Upstairs, the Independent Artist and Gallery Zones showcased both emerging and mid-career artists in more spacious settings. The range of styles was amazing; seeing how boundless and experimental art could be was truly inspiring.

Although the festival took place in Bangkok, it wasn’t limited to Thai artists. There was a wonderful mix of local creators, expats, and regional artists, and I loved how inclusive and welcoming the atmosphere was. The organizers did a fantastic job — not just in promoting the event, but also in curating a rich experience with artistic crafts, live music, talks, and so much more – I couldn’t get to explore it all! All in all, it was a win for me and I’m so glad I took the leap and applied, even though I had already missed the official deadline 🙂