Expensive to be Poor is a project in the form of a commercial website, grounded in the belief in the potential of a contemporary art platform as a space for exchange and accessibility. Founded by Pratchaya Phinthong, Mary Pansanga, and Tanatchai Bandasak, the initiative began with a simple idea: to offer artworks for sale under 10,000 THB (approximately 270 EUR), inviting artists to contribute by selecting or creating new works in response to the project’s framework, reflecting a wide range of artistic practices.

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In early 2023, we introduced a new collection: ‘+0’, which expands the price range up to 100,000 THB. This extension aims to offer broader variety and deeper engagement with the works on view.

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Responding to the urgencies of our time, economic instability, shifting values, and emerging forms of creativity, Expensive to be Poor explores how art can circulate differently. By fostering trade and exchange, we hope to encourage dialogue, generate momentum, and produce a ripple effect within and beyond the art community.

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This website serves not only as a marketplace, but also as a platform, making collecting more accessible, intertwining it with pleasure, and amplifying the elements that sustain and propel the art scene. The project’s commitment is to support the climate of art collecting, cherish artists, and allow their practices to thrive.

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Expensive to be Poor is not just an e-commerce site. It is an evolving idea, one that continues to reshape and expand itself, both physically and conceptually, over time.

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For further inquiries, feel free to contact us at: expensivetobepoor2020@gmail.com