The Black House

Craig and I had the opportunity to visit The Black House, otherwise known as Baan Dam, which is a unique art and architectural museum in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Located at the Tham Tawan Dhamma public park grounds, it is the creation of Thai national artist Thawan Duchanee, who began building it in 1992, and continued until his death in 2014.

The Black House draws from a variety of influences, including traditional Lanna architecture, Buddhism, and spiritual animism. The museum consists of more than forty wooden structures, constructed of teak wood, arranged in two distinct areas, each featuring a diverse collection of art – sculptures, paintings, masks, and silk panels, among others.

At the heart of the site is a tall black structure called Paw Ku, which serves as an anchor for the other buildings and is referred to by Thawan Duchanee as his spiritual home. Inside the black house lies a collection of artifacts related to the spiritual animism and traditional shamanism practiced by local hill tribes.

Our observation, the architecture was quite dramatic even with the dark and muted shades used. I actually thought there was more of the “Yang” influence and there wasn’t a balance that I often find in Asian art. I actually liked the design and flow of these structures.

The exhibition in the main structure (Paw Ku) was interesting. These works included pieces with bold brush strokes and captured movement. The subject matter was often mystical animals. These pieces were also interactive. Using the QR code would open instagram and on your phone the art piece would move. Pretty interesting work!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Black House.Read more