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Bangkok Travelbug Jan 2018 Owl Art Museum Nakhon Chaisi January 06, 2018 |
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Background information The Owl Art Museum is the brainchild of Associate Professor Preecha Pun-Klum, an art lecturer in the Silpakorn University. It all started with bedtime stories to his daughter using the owl as a model. 
Over the years his owl collection grew and continued growing even after his daughter had out-grown bedtime stories. In 11 years the collection of owls grew to 5,000! The museum was started seven years ago with the owl as the central theme and features the owl presented in various art forms. The current displays consist of his personal collection, models made in the museum art workshop, models by other Thai artisans and from all over the world. 
Owls from Indonesia Contents Owl in different cultures There are 216 species of owls in the world and the Thai National Parks website section on birds indicate 21 species of owls in Thailand. If there is one bird in the world that is perceived very differently in different cultures, it's the owl. The differences are drastic; it's a curse, it's a blessing, it's an ill omen, it's a lucky charm, it's evil, it's medicine. 
Owls of Thailand The owl is called nok hook in Thai (nok – bird, hook – the sound of the owl call) . Traditionally, the owl was an ill omen and called nok pi (nok – bird, pi – ghost). It was believed that the arrival of an owl at a house would result in someone getting sick. If the owl calls that's the death knell. Such attitudes are currently not prevalent judging from the owls on sale at curio shops. In sharp contrast, in Japan the owl figurines and toys are carried around as good luck charms and protection from harm and suffering. The Japanese word for owl is fukuro, (fuku – luck, ku – to come, fu – no, kuro – suffering). 
Owls from Japan 
Owl brand beer from Japan In Greek mythology, the owl is associated with Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom. In current Western culture, the owl is associated with knowledge and wisdom. Not so in Medieval Europe when the owl was the symbol of witchcraft. Owl meat is believed to have medicinal value in India. The number of calls made by the owl has different meanings; one cry means death, two means success etc. The Barn Owl is the steed of Goddess Lakshmi. 
India Owls are believed to be wise birds in Sulawesi, Indonesia where people listen to the calls of the owl before they travel, the number of calls will indicate whether it's safe to travel or not. 
Indonesia In Peru boiled owl meat is consumed as a medicine. 
Peru Contents Owl art at its best In the area of art, the Owl Art Museum exhibits exquisite craftsmanship. Here are some displays of owl art from Thailand and the world, owl art at its best. 
Engraved owl ceramics These owl-shaped flutes for making owl calls are from Ban Tawai, Chiang Mai. They are hollow with a slit at the top for blowing and a opening on the left. When someone blows into the slit, it makes a sound that's very close to the owl call. 
Owl flutes These owls are made from clay, when the clay is still malleable the owl is moulded and carved to the required shape, then heated as in clay pottery. 
Clay owl 
Pictures of owls made from woodwork 
Owls made from dried tree bark and twigs 
Some cute furry owl dolls 
Owls carved from coconuts – owl art from Southern Thailand 
Owl figurines from Italy in Medieval dress For your interest, the walls of the museum and the souvenir shop are made from paper mache! In line with this theme, the inner walls of the museum are lined with newspapers. Long before we had computers, electronic devices, television and even radio, the newspapers were the main form of mass communications. Scores of people worked as a team in different functions round the clock to print and distribute the newspapers. Contents Other facilities at the Owl Art Museum After the museum tour, visit the souvenir shop where there is an attractive collection of owl wood carvings, owl T shirts and other owl souvenirs on sale. 
Buy some home Next visit the art workshop and the art class for children. 
The art workshop 
The children's art class The owl theme is carried right to end at the museum café where you can enjoy your favourite brew. 
The museum cafe 
Choose your favourite owl brew 
The seating area After the visit to the Owl Art Museum, my home collection of owls increased from two to four. 
Hoot, hoot! Please note that owls are endangered species. Several countries prohibit private ownership and it's illegal to keep owls as pets. So, stick to clay models and stuffed toys. Contents Our thanks Our thanks to Khun Suphaphorn Pun-Klum for a very informative and well conducted tour of the Owl Art Museum. 
Thank you Khun Suphaphorn Thank you Acharn Preecha Pun-Klum for sharing your artistic creation with us. Contents Map to the Owl Art Museum If the map doesn’t appear, click on this link Address 10/3 Mu 1 Tambon Thaiyawas Nakhon Chaisi Nakhon Pathom 73120 Tel: 034 339 721, 09 7131 3445 Facebook Owl Art Museum Opening times Tuesdays – Fridays – 1000 – 1800 hours Saturdays and Sundays – 0930 – 1800 hours Closed on Mondays Admission – adult 60 baht, children 40 baht How to get there By car Starting from the Mahidol University Salaya, proceed along highway 4006, the Salaya – Nakhon Chaisi Road. Take the road to the Tha Na Market. The Owl Art Museum is on the left just before the bridge over the Tha Chin leading to the Tha Na Market. 
Look out for this sign Contents Next month The seagulls of Bangpu, Samut Prakarn If you enjoyed reading this e-zine, please forward it to a friend. If you received this from a friend and found it interesting, please subscribe at Bangkok Travelbug. What do you think of the Bangkok Travelbug? We love to hear from you What other subscribers have said Till next month then. Eric Lim Tour Bangkok Legacies Find us on Facebook My Journey through Thailand Part I The First Steps This is my second e-book and the first in the series of travel journals on my trips to explore the various provinces in Thailand. This edition, which covers my travels from late 2009 to mid-2013, will guide you to historical sites, cultural monuments and exquisite Thai handicraft, across a vast spectrum of cultural and ethnic diversity. You can have a virtual tour with this e-guide book or take the first steps yourself in this journey through Thailand. My Kindle e-book 
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