Wat Rong Khun, better known as the White Temple of Thailand, was built by Chalermchai Kositpipat, who wanted to create the most evocative and memorable place of worship in history. In fact, it seems that he managed to create a singular and unforgettable structure; the initial glance, given by hundreds of hands that emerge from the “Buddhist well of human cravings”, is unsettling. Once you cross the bridge over hell, you are greeted by guardians statues: from this moment it isn’t possible to go back, because the guard employed in the temple would scream at you.

The bridge is a symbol of passage from hell to heaven and indicates the Buddhist path to enlightenment. The peculiarity of Chalermchai’s style is to blend Thai tradition with modern elements, which is why his work has been subjecting of several debates. During 2104 an earthquake in Chiang Mai damaged the temple, but the artist did not give up and continued the most important work of his life.