Baan Dam Museum
Baan Dam Museum is located at Nang Lae Subdistrict, Muang District, Chiang Rai. It is a museum that hosts the artworks of Thawan Duchanee, the National Artist (Visual Arts). Its construction began in 1976 on a plot of land over 100 Rai. The complex consists of over 40 buildings, almost all of which are painted black and decorated with animal skins, bones, antlers, ivory, and skulls of various animals. It also houses a collection of valuable artifacts and handicrafts that are rare to see, such as wooden carvings, silver, and antique lacquerware.
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Baan Dam Museum is distinguished by its architecture, which uses wood and natural materials as a foundation. The buildings have a unique appearance, combining Lanna, Thai folk, and a variety of indigenous architectures in Southeast Asia. This reflects the artist's creativity and endless imagination, as well as his design philosophy, which incorporates Buddhist teachings, Trilakṣaṇa (Three Characteristics of the World), and the cosmological concepts of the Traiphum. Thawan Duchanee believed that architecture is a place that encompasses the soul. Living with the darkest side of humanity will help us understand ourselves and the world around us better.
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Baan Dam Museum is a very popular tourist destination for both Thai and foreign tourists. It has a shady and peaceful atmosphere, and is a place to learn and appreciate the artworks of Thawan Duchanee, one of the main figures of National Artists of Thailand. The museum is a tourist spot that one should not miss when visiting Chiang Rai
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Artists: Busui Ajaw, Chakaia Booker, Kamonlak Sukchai, Soe Yu Nwe
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Photo credit: Chanin Phasuriwong