Special Exhibitions

Cover/ Uncovered 

Curator: Amirahvelda Priyono
Artists: Farida Jiraphan, Nisa R.A.
Selected by: Special project’s BACC pop⋅up
Principal Supporter: Seacon Development Co., Ltd.
Opening ceremony: 16th May 2026, 4:00-8:00 pm
Additional activities: Lecture Performance 

The hijab. A cloth, a symbol, and a dedication for Muslim women who are ready to elevate their religious practices. It exists to empower, to be visible as an identity, and to represent a religious value. The hijab is not only a fashion item or a piece of clothing for Muslim women, but also represents women’s desire to cover themselves completely. Those who wear it voluntarily, without force, and with an understanding of its necessity and purpose, feel a sense of pride. However, hijab can be a source of conflict and a threat to those who do not acknowledge it or abuse of power in the name of religion. Islam is one of the major religions in Southeast Asia, where people share similarities and hold contradictory perspectives despite language barriers and citizenship status.

The Covered/Uncovered exhibition features two women artists from Indonesia and Thailand who present their dialogue, questions, conflicts, and arguments in a single scene. The collaboration between performance and photography invites the audience to consider how women are represented visually and through movement. The exhibition encourages us to relearn about the community, its vulnerabilities, and its political struggles against the established order. The conversation will speak the artists’ thoughts, and the portraits will visualise the storytelling, transforming the unfamiliar into recognisable.

Opening Schedule: “Cover/ Uncovered ” Exhibition
Saturday, 16 May 2026, at 2:00 PM
At BACC pop•up, pop•up Space, 3rd Floor, MMAD MunMun Srinakarin
Seacon Square Srinakarin

Curator

Amirahvelda Priyono (Indonesia, b. 1994), or Velda, is an art writer, curator, and art historian specialising in Southeast Asian modern and contemporary art. Her research focuses on politics, war, and photography, aiming to connect the socio-political narrative with historical complexity through collective memory approaches. The scope of her research includes the aftermath of war, political tensions, collective memories of history, and archives from the colonial period to the present-day government system.

She completed her Bachelor’s degree in French Literature at the University of Padjadjaran, Indonesia (2012-2016), and holds a Master’s degree in Asian Art Histories from LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore (2022-2023). Velda has published articles, essays, and journals such as Plural Art Magazine, APARN, the ACA Project, and Circa Art Magazine. Currently based in Surabaya, Indonesia, Velda is committed to uncovering overlooked stories and fostering a deeper understanding of Southeast Asian art within global discourses. 

Artist Profile 

Farida Jiraphan (Thailand, b. 1974) works as an independent actor, theatre lecturer, and creative activist based in Bangkok, Thailand. She graduated from the Department of Journalism, Faculty of Humanities, Ramkhamhaeng University in 1996. After graduation, she started her theatre training and work with the Saeng Arun Art and Culture Centre. Her performance centres on the hijab, Islam, and its community as the main context to portray the society in Thailand, especially in the deep South.

Since 2005, she has worked with several theatre companies, including Crescent Moon Theatre, B-floor Theatre, and New Theatre Society. Her notable performances have been showcased across Thailand, Japan, Germany, and Sweden.

Nisa R.A. (Indonesia, b. 1993) is a visual artist specialising in women’s issues and intergenerational gaps. She works across various media, including photography, film, visual installations, and video art. Nisa earned her master’s degree in Cultural Studies at Sanata Dharma University, focusing her research on the emergence of fear discourses that impact the bodies of Acehnese women. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Film and Television at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Yogyakarta. Born and raised in Aceh, she faced numerous challenges due to the strict enforcement of Sharia law. 

Nisa is also the founder of Breaking the Chain Collective, an organisation dedicated to challenging and dismantling gender inequality rooted in history, social structures, and culture through art. Her artwork has been exhibited internationally, including Singapore, Cambodia, and Indonesia, and her film was screened at Beijing Normal University.