Franz ElizOne of the unique attractions in Chiang Rai is the Baan Dam Museum or ‘Black House’. It’s also known as the ‘Black Temple’. Despite the latter, note that it’s not a temple but a museum. After visiting Chiang Rai’s White Temple, consider dropping by Baan Dam Museum if you like quirky, contemporary art with a touch of Thai culture.
Baan Dam Museum was founded by Thawan Duchanee, a renowned Thai painter and sculptor specialising in contemporary art and architecture. The museum showcases the artist’s works in different themes, mostly painted in black and red. Despite its uniqueness, the museum might not suit everyone.
I visited the museum with my friend Abed during our trip to Thailand and thought it was interesting. However, I can understand why some people might not be a fan of this attraction. Keep reading to explore more about the Black House, what to expect from it, and if it’s worth visiting.
Black House: A Quirky Museum in Chiang Rai
When I saw Baan Dam Museum from the roadside, I didn’t know what to expect. And the truth is I didn’t read about the museum before my visit. I was amazed by what I saw inside the building. There are 40 buildings within the museum, with some inaccessible to visitors.
Quirky Furniture Made With Bones, Horns, and Leather
There were many displays of furniture made of buffalo horns, bones, and skins. The furniture also looked very solid. As Abed and I explored the museum, we came across interesting paintings – one of them was a picture of a scary buffalo.
Creepy Reptile Leather and Skulls
It’s easy to imagine how a heavy-metal fan would react positively towards the Black House. But it’s also understandable that it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Besides quirky furniture and paintings, the museum also features the leather of reptilians like crocodiles and snakes that some might find rather disturbing.
There are also many animal skulls at the museum.
Wooden Penises and Vaginas
There are wooden penis statues everywhere around the museum. We also came across a troll-like statue with a giant penis near the main entrance.
The museum also has penis ladles. One of the ladles (with a female carving) had money in it.
People might assume that the artist was obsessed with penises. But wait; visitors will also find wooden vaginas at the museum. There’s one on the toilet sign.
Playground With Wooden Rocking Horses
After exploring the main museum, we explored the surrounding areas. We came across a playground with wooden rocking horses and seesaws.
They looked pretty solid. Even adults can sit on them.
Delicious Charcoal Ice Cream
The weather was hot and the minute we saw an ice cream shop, we just had to stop by for a dessert. We got ourselves charcoal ice creams. They were black and white and delicious! It was my first time having charcoal ice cream, so I’m glad I wasn’t disappointed. The ice cream wasn’t too sweet, just how I like my ice cream. It came with a chocolate stick wafer and a chocolate biscuit.
Oh, we came across another wooden statue with a huge penis yet again. It’s standing right on top of the ice cream counter while holding a big ice cream.
Souvenir Store With Small Figurines of Thawan Duchanee’s
There’s a small souvenir store just next to the ice cream shop. It has many interesting items, such as stylish clothes and accessories, keychains, and various penis trinkets. There are also small figurines of the creator behind the Baan Dam Museum. We were interested in getting something home, but the prices were high, so we gave it a pass.
Toilet Room With Penis Ladles
Earlier, I mentioned that the museum has ladles with the shape of a penis. After exiting the main building, visitors will come across a toilet with penis ladles hanging on the wall.
They come in different shapes and sizes. This particular toilet is for display only.
Beautiful Water Buffaloes
We came across two water buffaloes as we walked around the museum’s compound.
Even though they were tied to the tree and seemed friendly, we kept our distance. The strings to which they were tied were long enough for them to move around and graze.
Is the Baan Dam Museum Worth Visiting?
The Baan Dam Museum is about 29 minutes from Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) by car, so many tourists consider it as their next destination after visiting the White Temple. But is it worth making the trip?
Those who like quirky art and architecture may find the Baan Dam Museum worth visiting. Despite its unique theme and efforts, the museum might not suit everyone, especially those who disapprove of the use of animal products. The museum also features erotic displays, which some might find offensive.
As discussed earlier, wooden statues with huge penises, even vaginas, can be seen at the museum. For some people, these displays are inappropriate for kids. During my visit to the museum, however, I noticed groups of school kids at the museum. It looked like they were there for a school trip.
By visiting Baan Dam Museum, visitors can see the works of one of Thailand’s best artists. Thawan Duchanee was awarded as the National Thai Artist in Fine Art and Visual Art by the Office of the National Culture Commission of Thailand.
For me, it was a good experience. It was also a pleasure to experience the hard work of one of Thailand’s most notable artists. Prior to exploring the Black House, the museum provided us with a leaflet about the museum and its founder.
Using the map on the leaflet, visitors can identify the buildings within the museum, like the main sanctuary hall, artist studio, wood carving studio, and more.
The museum is big, so a map is helpful, especially to help visitors look for specific buildings.
How Much Time Is Required To Explore the Black House?
Exploring the Black House may take between 1 and 3 hours. There are about 40 buildings in the museum, and since they’re unique, stopping by for photo-taking is common.
We took it slow and spent nearly 3 hours at the museum. The sun can be unforgiving, so it’s a good idea to put on sun lotion, especially if you know you’ll be spending some time outdoors taking photos.
Fortunately, there are many shaded areas at the museum, allowing visitors to take their time and enjoy the surrounding scenery.
The entrance ticket is just THB80 (about USD2), which is considerably affordable for most tourists. If I didn’t like the attraction, I would’ve considered it expensive, though.
Opening hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Final Thoughts
Baan Dam Museum, also known as the ‘Black House’ or “Black Temple” is a unique museum in Chiang Rai, located less than 30 minutes from the White Temple. It showcases the works of the late Thawan Duchanee, a renowned contemporary Thai artist.
While it’s an interesting museum, overall, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. The museum is dark, with many dark elements, but there’s more than meets the eye. Take your time to explore the museum and discover its true beauty.
