OVERHEARD: Do Gravity Art Space’s co-founders run a café in Bangkok?

The former gallery faces allegations from artists over unpaid sales and unreturned works.

It’s been days since Gravity Art Space—a former Quezon City gallery accused of failing to pay artists and return their works—made waves on social media.

The gallery has set Dec. 31 as the deadline for the retrieval of works in its custody, though several artists are still demanding payment, with some saying their messages have gone unanswered.

As these issues unfold, another question has been surfacing online: Do its co-founders own and operate a café in Bangkok?

The question first surfaced among readers following radar’s initial report on Gravity Art Space’s closure and complaints from artists. Since then, public posts and interactions have provided more connections between the café and gallery co-founders Indy Paredes and Melai Matias.

The café in question is Sabai Tayo Garden Café, which announced its opening in February and describes itself as “a community and lifestyle café in Bangkok,” a “shared space where coffee, food, art, music, and everyday life come together naturally.”

In a March post, Sabai Tayo invited customers to “sit, chill, sip coffee, and enjoy taking pictures all day long.”

Its advertised location is Soi Vibhavadi Rangsit 20, at V20 Boutique Hotel—the same location where Gravity Art Space previously operated its Bangkok branch.

While the café has promoted its food, coffee, garden setting, and creative-community activities online, it has not publicly identified its owners on its social media pages.

However, a source privy to Paredes and Matias’ lives told radar: “Yes, they own it.”

Familiar names in guest book

The café’s social media accounts have, however, featured several references to “Indy” and “Melai.”

Some appear in photos of the café’s guest book, which have been archived in Sabai Tayo’s Instagram Story Highlights. The handwritten messages thank and congratulate the people addressed, with some also complimenting the establishment and its offerings.

In posting one of the messages in July, the caption read: “To our friends who left these pages behind, thank you for the love, the drawings, and the memories. You’ll always have a place at Sabai Tayo.”

The Instagram account of Gravity Art Space Bangkok can also be seen liking one of the posts.

Sabai Tayo’s “Community” Story Highlights also include posts showing Paredes and Matias inside the café.

These posts alone do not establish their ownership or role at the café.

Paredes promoting Sabai Tayo

But Paredes’ public Threads activity offers another connection to the café.

In an April 17 post asking, “anywhere in Bangkok with a rooftop pool to smoke 🪴???,” his account replied, “Come to SABAI TAYO!”

Paredes’ account also promoted the café in a July 31 exchange with travel content creator Laurie Cohen, who shared a list of Bangkok cafés “worth going out of your way for” and asked followers for their own recommendations.

“See Sabai Tayo at Chatuchak area. It is a garden art cafe that also serves unique and signature Filipino dish,” the account replied.

When Cohen said she would check it out, the account added: “You may also check them on their instagram page 🙂”

Paredes does not explicitly identify himself as an owner or operator of the café in these replies.

Filipino community

Another reference came in August from the public Facebook group “Filipino Community in Thailand,” which has more than 115,000 members.

On Aug. 24, a member identifying herself as a “PH Artist” posted that she was looking to build a directory of Filipino artists and musicians in Bangkok for “future art features, events, jams, and collaborations.”

A commenter using a nickname suggested Sabai Tayo as a place to connect with artists.

“Hi! You may want to reach out to the owners of Sabai Tayo cafe in Chatuchak, Indy and Melai. They are both Filipinos, we met them last month, and they are both artists (their art are also shown in the area),” the commenter wrote.

“Not sure if they are members in this group since they told us that they are newbies here in Thailand. Just remembered them when I saw your post,” the commenter added.

The commenter did not provide documentation establishing the ownership of the café.

Back at Gravity Art Space

The café question comes as Gravity Art Space continues to face unresolved issues following the suspension of its operations.

On Sept. 25, the former Quezon City gallery gave artists, collectors, owners, and authorized representatives until Dec. 31, 2026 to retrieve artworks still in its custody. Works left unclaimed after Jan. 1, 2027, without an alternative arrangement, may be transferred to third-party storage or subjected to other lawful measures, the gallery said.

The notice followed months of complaints from artists, including allegations of unpaid sales and artworks that had not been returned.

Paredes apologized in a Sept. 8 statement for his “matagal na pananahimik,” saying people had been “nasaktan, nadismaya, nagalit, nalito, at naiwan na may mga tanong.” He said he had sought advice from lawyers and other experts but did not specify the outstanding matters.

radar’s earlier reporting also prompted members of the local art community to share other allegations involving the gallery, including claims concerning illegal substances.

radar previously reached out to Gravity Art Space through the recovery email address provided in Paredes’ statement and the gallery’s Instagram account. radar also contacted Gravity Art Space Bangkok and V20 Boutique Hotel about the status of the Bangkok space.

Paredes’ Facebook account could not be reached through Messenger, which displayed the notice: “Indy can’t access this chat yet. You’ll be able to send messages when Indy next logs into Messenger.” His personal Instagram account is also set to private.

Following the Sept. 25 notice, radar sent an iMessage to the mobile number provided in the notice to follow up on its previous inquiries, including questions about whether Paredes and Matias own or operate Sabai Tayo. The message was marked “Read.”

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