Wattana Art Gallery
Wattana Art Gallery
4.5
About
Wattana Art Gallery, Chiang Mai, Thailand Where can I see contemporary art in Chiang Mai? Tourists and art lovers are left asking this question after they have seen all the Wats and visited the craft villages. Tucked away on Soi Wat Umong in the hills behind Chiang Mai University, Wattana Art Gallery is a stunning building that houses perhaps the finest art gallery in Chiang Mai. It has three floors full of original paintings in oil, acrylic and mixed media,ranging from smaller works to larger size murals. Wattana Wattanapun has lived and worked in the United States and Canada. He has held visiting professorship positions in numerous prestigious institutions, including Haverford College, Oberlin College, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and Simon Fraser University. Presently, he is an academic consultant to the Fine Arts Faculty, Chiang Mai University.Wattana’s art work incorporates traditional Thai motifs in a contemporary perspective. The work expresses social commentary on the changing and corrupted cultural environment and makes us question the nature of beauty.Come visit Wattana Art Gallery and enjoy organic coffee, exotic snacks and available WiFi in the Coffee Corner while you experience this unique gallery designed as an art sanctuary -- a quiet place for contemplation about beauty and aesthetics, where art is inseparable from life.
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1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
87 reviews
Excellent
65
Very good
16
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Allexcq
Melbourne4 contributions
Jul 2014 • Solo
Coming here has been the highlight of my time in Thailand. When my friend and I visited Wattana Art Gallery we were welcomed by Wattana himself, a very sweet and kind man who spoke the best english which helps when visiting something with culture. He showed us his gallery himself and gave us a very thorough walk through. It is a very special gallery situated on his shady property, but if you walked past it in NYC or London it would not look out of place, it is a very sophisticated building. Wattana's art is something to be seen, very much about the history of thailand and Thai textile, I really loved to see his detailed works juxtaposed with his abstract works fro his time in America.
This experience here really made mine and my friend's trip in Chiang Mai and I will always remember it and am very thankful we made the trip here.
This experience here really made mine and my friend's trip in Chiang Mai and I will always remember it and am very thankful we made the trip here.
Written July 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Armand
Pretoria, South Africa48 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
Just a stone throw away from the Wat Umong temple at the end of a small corridor you will find the Wattana art gallery.
Being the only visitors to the gallery, Wattana himself opened his gallery for the three of us. What a wonderful experience being only three visitors in this impressive gallery. His art are really beautiful and visitors receive an article from Wattana where his share his philosophy on the social economical impact of the new world on the traditional Thai culture.
Wattana is a friendly, quiet artist. He patiently posed for a few photos for me.
ps. Tip. If you take a taxi ask them to take you to the Wat Umong temple. We tried to show our taxi a map to Wattana Art gallery and ended up three kilometers away.With the nameboard of Wat Umong at your back walk straight down for a few hundered meters and you will find the Wattana Gallery sign and a small road to your right.
Being the only visitors to the gallery, Wattana himself opened his gallery for the three of us. What a wonderful experience being only three visitors in this impressive gallery. His art are really beautiful and visitors receive an article from Wattana where his share his philosophy on the social economical impact of the new world on the traditional Thai culture.
Wattana is a friendly, quiet artist. He patiently posed for a few photos for me.
ps. Tip. If you take a taxi ask them to take you to the Wat Umong temple. We tried to show our taxi a map to Wattana Art gallery and ended up three kilometers away.With the nameboard of Wat Umong at your back walk straight down for a few hundered meters and you will find the Wattana Gallery sign and a small road to your right.
Written December 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandy B
Tampa, FL3 contributions
Feb 2013 • Friends
It was a pleasure to visit Wattana Art Gallery. Wattana’s paintings express anthropological details of a culture with the skill and sensitivity of an artist. I was especially moved by his Grace and Malice series in which he explores the delicate appeal of beauty as well as the inherent vulnerability that accompanies it. Wattana blurs the boundaries between art and other academic disciplines in a way that might make you wonder if he is an artistic anthropologist or an anthropological artist.
Wattana built this art gallery as permanent housing for his art work. He researched contemporary museum architecture from around the world and used the brush strokes of a painter to translate the materials and methods of our times into this gallery. Wattana touched every centimeter of this building with his hand, his eye and his soul. He even used old rose wood from his adjacent house to create the entrance doors, swing-out exhibit panels and architectural details on the stairs up to the second floor gallery. This unique gallery environment adds to the experience of viewing his very original art. There is nothing else like it in Chiang Mai!
Visit this unique gallery, view his art work and decide for yourself.
Wattana built this art gallery as permanent housing for his art work. He researched contemporary museum architecture from around the world and used the brush strokes of a painter to translate the materials and methods of our times into this gallery. Wattana touched every centimeter of this building with his hand, his eye and his soul. He even used old rose wood from his adjacent house to create the entrance doors, swing-out exhibit panels and architectural details on the stairs up to the second floor gallery. This unique gallery environment adds to the experience of viewing his very original art. There is nothing else like it in Chiang Mai!
Visit this unique gallery, view his art work and decide for yourself.
Written November 2, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Duang T
Melbourne, Australia29 contributions
Aug 2016
Before you even get inside this gallery you know you are in for a treat. It is situated away from the busy and noisy streets of Chiangmai in a tranquil surrounding by natural beauty of trees, gardens and flowers. Once inside the gallery Wattana leads you through his work spanning at least five decades. You are introduced to art created to represent the depth of traditional crafts most notably textile and paper making. Wattana, the artist, deeply understands and respects various ethnic minorities who have been a part of influencing the multilayered culture of northern Thailand. It is easy to spend hours in this special place learning not only about his art but also appreciating the depth of knowledge and meaning that comes with each piece.
Written August 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rick S
London, UK20 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
It wasn't clear to us that this is just the work of Mr Wattana. It's ok but we had been expecting a gallery with a variety of work.
It's also out of the way for transport.
It's also out of the way for transport.
Written March 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emily R
9 contributions
Nov 2014
Amazing art! We got to meet the artist an he kindly welcomed us and talked about his work. It can be hard to find. DIRECTIONS: starting at the wat u Mong temple turn left (as if you are exiting the temple exit - you should be facing the little cafe) walk down the street past the inn (about 200m). Turn right at the little black sign that says "wattana gallery". Turn right again down a little road and follow it to the end.
Google maps doesn't give the right address. I suggest to take a taxi to the temple (which is also worth a visit) then it's a short 5min walk from there. There's also a little map on the artists website.
Google maps doesn't give the right address. I suggest to take a taxi to the temple (which is also worth a visit) then it's a short 5min walk from there. There's also a little map on the artists website.
Written November 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KhunBababobo
Chiang Mai, Thailand15 contributions
Feb 2014 • Solo
Why do I say this? Because Wattana's skill is beyond reproach, and every brushstroke is laid with the purest intent. Whether his subjects are people, nature, or abstracts, Wattana's work is never banal. He paints with a purpose, and with dignity to relay to us viewers the complexities of life, whether filled with beauty or terrible tragedy.
His gallery, designed by the artist, and created to house his works, both past and present, is, and will continue to be, a living memorial to a lifetime of capturing the human spirit, that though essentially Thai, is universal in the themes expressed. A trip to Chiang Mai truly wouldn't be complete without a visit to this extraordinary private gallery that, on most counts, outshines its public counterparts.
His gallery, designed by the artist, and created to house his works, both past and present, is, and will continue to be, a living memorial to a lifetime of capturing the human spirit, that though essentially Thai, is universal in the themes expressed. A trip to Chiang Mai truly wouldn't be complete without a visit to this extraordinary private gallery that, on most counts, outshines its public counterparts.
Written February 26, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wadephillips
Seattle, WA119 contributions
This is a wonderful surprise and worth a visit for the art and architecture. Wattana's more recent art is full of amazing detail resembling local regional textiles. These pieces make one think he/she is looking at the real thing. This graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design has pursued many different styles and has a collection with examples of his work that look like they could have served as inspiration for artists as diverse as Mark Tobey and Georgia O'Keefe. Don't miss this place.
Written November 16, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
arumscarum
London112 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
The problem was we were expecting to go to a 'Contemporary Art Gallery' and see a variety of work. Wattana is the name of this artist and it's a subjective thing, but we found his work ...ok. The house itself is a lovely piece of design and is tasteful throughout. But location-wise, it really isn't close to anything much, so takes a slightly special effort to get there. At least it's free!
Written March 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jobst56
Hamburg, Germany1,739 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
We were lucky to be welcomed and shown around by the artist, Wattana, himself.
Besides speaking impeccable English, he has a refined sense of humour.
Get away from the crowds and come here - combine it with a visit to beautiful Wat U Mong opposite.
Besides speaking impeccable English, he has a refined sense of humour.
Get away from the crowds and come here - combine it with a visit to beautiful Wat U Mong opposite.
Written January 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dalyn
Bangkok, Thailand36 contributions
Is the hotel near or connected with the Gallery?
W_wattana
Chiang Mai, Thailand
There are several hotels in the area near by.
1. Kantary Hill Hotel on Nimmanhemin Rd. 5 minutes by taxi, 25 minutes walk to Wat Umong and to Wattana Art Gallery
2. A bunch of hotels on Nimmanhemin Rd. Same distance as Kantary Hill.
3. Sirinart Garden hotel 5minutes walk pass Wat Umong and 3 minutes to the gallery.
Wattana Art Gallery (Chiang Mai) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Wattana Art Gallery
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Wattana Art Gallery Information
Excellent Reviews | 65 |
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Very Good Reviews | 16 |
Wattana Art Gallery Photos | 50 |