An art work by artist Sornchai Phongsa, titled 'Alien capital', at the inaugural Bangkok Art Biennale in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 24, 2018. Photo: Thomson Reuters Foundation

Sex workers and migrant labourers feature prominently in an art festival in Bangkok, which features local and international artists tackling issues that the artistic director says are otherwise ignored in the city.

The inaugural Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB), which runs until February, features 75 exhibits in 20 venues that include the city's ancient temples, luxury hotels and malls.

For the theme, Beyond Bliss, several artists chose social and environmental issues, said Apinan Poshyananda, the artistic director.

"These are often collateral in our pursuit of bliss," he said.