Siting in a converted warehouse in the historical craft district Sankhampaeng, Maiiam Contemporary Art Museum is a 30-minute drive east from the Chiang Mai city center. The design of the 3,000 sq meter space comes courtesy of architectural firm Allzone, led by Rachaporn Choochey. Maiiam, which means "brand new", will feature a mix of rotating and permanent exhibitions from the personal collections of Jean Michel Beurdeley, his late wife Patsri Bunnag and their son Eric Bunnag Booth (Jim Thomson’s international marketing director).  

The focus at the museum is on emerging local artists as well as contemporary masters like the late Montien Boonma, Kamin Lertchaiprasert, Chatchai Puipia and Rirkrit Tiravanija, the noughties poster child for the Relational Aesthetics movement. The first exhibition, curated by Gridthiya Gaweewong, of the Jim Thompson Art Center, is a retrospective of the renowned director Apichatpong Weerasethakul called The Serenity of Madness (on until Sep 10).

Presenting the Chaing Mai-hailing artist's career trajectory, the show covers his earliest experimental films through to his most recent works, including 16mm film, digital video, video installations, photography and print. The exhibition will also comprise rarely-seen pieces such as scripts, production sketches and making-of videos from films like Mysterious Object At Noon (2000), Blissfully Yours (2002) and the Cannes-winning Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010), plus four screening programs of Apichatpong’s 30 newly remastered short films.  

The museum opens Wed-Mon, 10am-6pm. Admission costs B150 ($5.80). Check out their Facebook page for more information.

Tigerair flies direct from Singapore to Chiang Mai from $255 (return, excluding baggage).