Ban Hun Lek (บ้านหุ่นเหล็ก), i.e.
‘Iron Dolls House’ is an art factory and museum in Angthong, in central
Thailand. It is the creative idea of Phairoht Thanomwong, who makes steel
figures with pieces from old engines, using parts of decommissioned machines and
vehicles. He transforms these discarded parts into imitations of robot-like
figures, both in human and animal-like form, as well as into mock vehicles,
especially futuristic-looking cars and motorbikes. Many of his creations are
reminiscent to figures and vehicles from movies such as Transformers, Mad Max,
Star Wars, Aliens, etc. It is therefore in English sometimes referred to as the
Transformer Museum, a name not supported by the owner. They are produced in
various sizes, generally from 2 to 4 meters, but some are as tall as 6 meters,
though he initially started by making small figures that were sold in shops and
on markets. As interest from the public grew, he expanded his business and
started to export, while his creations or copycat works can now be seen all over
Thailand, often as eye catchers in front of businesses such as fuel stations.
The Thai name hun lek (หุ่นเหล็ก), meaning ‘iron man/men’ or ‘metal doll(s)/puppet(s)’,
is a play of words with the theatre puppets used in traditional hun lakon lek
performances and which are known as hun lek (หุ่นเล็ก), i.e. with a different
Thai spelling and tone, and meaning ‘little/small puppet(s)’. Despite the use of
the term Iron in its name, there are also artifacts that have been made with or
from other discarded parts, such as old tires, and the art collection is
complemented with other curiosities, such as ohng yak, i.e. gigantic earthen
water pots used in rural areas to collect and store rain water, made into giant
yak faces with colourful paint in a play of words with the gigantic earthen
water pots called ohng yak, literally ‘giant water pots’.
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