Bangkok Pop Art named BangPOP is a brand created by the well-known Dutch Bitcoin artist Johannes Oppewal. Through this brand, I share my passion for the city of Bangkok, the beauty of Thai culture, and, above all, the wonderful people of Thailand.
Pop Art is a joyful way to bring ideas to life. In the vibrant city of Bangkok, where I frequently return for inspiration and to create new art, I began developing the BangPOP brand. Through this pop art style, I capture everything that reflects the essence of Bangkok. The three core elements of my Pop Art—Love, Peace, and Joy—are also deeply woven into the BangPOP brand. For the BangPOP brand we use the Thai words สเน่หา = (saneha) Love, สันติ (san ti) = Peace, สนุก (sanook) = joy.
Why this BangPOP brand
As an artist, this is my way of expressing gratitude to Thai culture and the Thai people while celebrating the city of Bangkok through my pop art style. Bangkok has been an endless source of inspiration for me, and I wanted to give something back. I also view and depict Bangkok from the perspective of a foreigner—or as the Thai people say, a Farang :).
The “B” in the Bangkok style is the same “B” from my BitPopArt brand, inspired by the iconic Bitcoin symbol. Bitcoin gives me the financial freedom to create new art every day. Without Bitcoin, I wouldn’t have the time to dedicate so fully to developing the BangPOP brand.
Bitcoin and Nostr have been instrumental in bringing my art to life, and they continue to support the growth of this project. I have ambitious plans for the BangPOP brand and am excited to see how the Bangkok community embraces this art style.
I aim to create a remarkable exhibition in Bangkok in December 2025, one that I hope will deeply connect with the Thai people and the millions of tourists who visit the city each year. While creating all the art will require significant effort, I trust that the natural flow of events will guide how my work is embraced in this vibrant city.
My personal story with Bangkok
For many years, I’ve spent several months each year living in Bangkok, a city I’ve come to experience as peaceful chaos. The city is a blend of opposites—buzzing urban life alongside serene Buddhist temples. This duality mirrors life itself: sometimes chaotic, yet defined by how we perceive and navigate it.
What strikes me most is the serene energy of the Thai people, which always makes me feel at home. Observing the city for my drawings is a true joy—there’s so much happening in the streets of Bangkok.
Coming from Sneek, a small city in the Netherlands with a population of just 30,000, Bangkok doesn’t feel overwhelming to me. Traveling to 88 countries has also shifted my perspective; I’ve grown accustomed to busier places. Of course, I’m not referring to tourist hotspots, which are crowded everywhere, but rather the unique way Thai people interact, bringing life to this extraordinary city.
I often feel a serene vibe from the Thai people, which gives the city its warm and friendly atmosphere. When you take the time to slow down, observe, and walk at a gentle pace, you begin to notice the incredible beauty in the people and the many smiles that surround you.
Goal of 2025
The goal is to have a big exhibition next year starting at 21 December 2025.
To support this BangPOP project and other POPup events around the world you can support my BitPOPs page.