Thawan Duchanee dies at age 74. Here's where to see the national artist's work.

Thawan's Baandum Museum in Chiang Rai

Baandum Museum (Photo LannaPhoto)

Thawan's work hanging in CVN at Silom Galleria

Thawan's work at Museum of Contemporary Art

Thawan Duchanee dies at age 74. Here's where to see the national artist's work.

Thawan's work was incredibly powerful, blending compositions with an almost comic strip energy, and the refined elements borrowed from traditional Thai painting. Here's where you can go see the late master's work.

10 years ago

By Gregoire Glachant | Sep 03, 2014

Thawan's work was incredibly powerful, blending compositions with an almost comic strip energy, and the refined elements borrowed from traditional Thai painting. Here's where you can go see the late master's work.

By Gregoire Glachant
| Sep 03, 2014

MOCA

The Chairman and MD of telecommunications giant DTAC, Boonchai Bencharongkul, blew B600 million on a 18,000-sq-meter, five-story building on Viphavadhi Rangsit Rd. It is Thailand’s biggest private museum and Thailand’s first significant permanent modern art collection open to the public. The works are nearly all post 1970s, and mostly post 1990s even, befitting the museum’s name. The fourth floor sees a whopping four rooms dedicated to Thawan Duchanee.

Museum of Contemporary Art, Bejajinda Building, Wiphawadi-Rangsit Rd. 02-953-1111. Open Tue-Sun 10am-6pm. B180. Students B80. Free admission for children under 15.

MODERN GALLERY

Modern Gallery, situated right near the front of OP Garden in Charoenkrung, is the brainchild of art collector Ritt Slipsophon, who previously ran 44 Arts Gallery. The setting is pretty traditional. The gallery’s aim to showcase works by both prominent and rising Thai artist means we get to see pieces by Thawan Duchanee, Chalermchai Kositpipat and Angkarn Kalayanapong, alongside emerging artists like Lolay, Cherdwood Sakolaya and Thanakorn.

OP Garden, 30/1 Charoen Krung Soi 36, 02-238-6449. BTS Saphan Taksin. Open Mon-Sat 11am-7pm.

CVN

CVN is more of an art dealer, so no rotating exhibitions here. But with two Thawan Duchanee's proudly displayed in the front window, CVN is only rivaled by Sombat Permpoon in terms of reputation. Bring a few million baht if you'd like to take a Duchanee home, but prices start from much lower than that.
02-630-2251

Sombat Permpoon

As mentioned above, this gallery is a major dealer. Their Thawan Duchanee's are all sold out, but you can still drop by to see if they have any on display. They also have rotating exhibitions

Sombat Permpoon Gallery, 12 Sukhumvit Soi 1. 02-254-6040.

Baandum Museum

Started 35 years ago in Chiang Mai, this museum, also known as The Black House) belongs to the national artist Thawan Dachanee who is celebrated for his eerie sculptures made from horns and bones, reptile skins, traditional African sculptures, old boats, Lanna-style woodcrafts and art installations housed across 32 buildings, most of which are Lanna-style pavilions made from black wood. Don’t forget to stop at the gallery at the entrance to see Tawan’s own paintings, priced at B20 million each, all of which have technically been sold, but which are still exhibited here.

414 Moo 13, Nang Lae, Chiang Mai. 053-705-834. Open daily 8:30am-noon, 1:30-4pm. Free. www.tawan-duchanee.com

Thawan Duchanee dies at age 74. Here's where to see the national artist's work.

Thawan's work was incredibly powerful, blending compositions with an almost comic strip energy, and the refined elements borrowed from traditional Thai painting. Here's where you can go see the late master's work.