While heading towards the Hill Tribe Museum, several tall totem columns in a park struck my eye. They were intricately carved, some places in rather high relief. Inside a roofed enclosure several young men were passionately carving several more totems, each engaged in different steps of the process. On the one wall, detailed sketch plans were hung. One worker put down his chisels and explained to me that the totems portrayed Chiang Rai’s long, proud history. They were selling smaller pieces to help finance their ambitious project. In many ways, their passionate dedication reminded me of Khositphipha, another local artist who is putting his incredible artistic talent and visionary ideas towards the construction and decoration of the
White Temple. If I recall correctly, I believe there were about 20 totems planned. With only about five completed or in process, it will take quite some time to complete these works of art using traditional carving methods.
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