• 
• 

Published on November 29, 2007

 Since 2000, Wasinburee Supanichvoraparch, the third generation to run his family's Tao Hong Tai ceramics factory in Ratchaburi, has been busy transforming the dull ceramics of yesteryear with a combination of vivid European retro styling and Asian tradition. His modern designs have received critical acclaim and attracted attention at home and overseas.

With his factory celebrating its 75th birthday next year, Wasinburee has plans to fire a new historical chapter by inviting 33 people - mostly strangers to clay - to create ceramics for a show titled "Chapter 75: Clay Overture". The show will be held from December 14 to January 3 at Playground on Bangkok's Soi Thonglor and the proceeds from the work sold will go to fund the studies of young ceramists.

Among those participating are photographers Surat Osathanugrah and Anuchai Secharunputong, furniture designer Udom Udomsrianan of Planet 2001, fashion designer Jitsing Somboon, model Saengthong Ket-utong, jewellery designer Pornpilai Meemalai and her artist husband Jiradej. Painters swapping their canvases for kilns include Sakwut Wisetmanee, Thaiwijit Puengkasemsomboon, Chalit Nakpawan and Thaweesak Srithongdee.

"We want to get a different angle from ceramics created by beginners and hope that the resulting works will give inspiration for anyone to have a go. This is just the start; we need the involvement of a new generation to help develop the ceramics industry," says Wasinburee, who studied ceramics in the city of Kassel in Germany.

 Underlying each of Pornpilai's jewellery creations is her theory of "dependent opposites", which brings an aesthetic balance to her work. Adapting this notion to ceramics, she's created two separate forms, one inside the other.

"It's the first time I've used a potter's wheel. The outer container is formed by my right hand, while I use my left to create the inner one. I'm trying to show the unity of all things.

"The two sides of the brain control two different modes of thinking. The right brain focuses on aesthetics and creativity, and controls the left hand, while the left brain focuses on logical thinking, analysis and accuracy and controls the right hand. I'm right-handed, but when I experiment with my left hand, I feel happy and free," says Pornpilai, an instructor at Silpakorn University's Department of Jewellery Design.

Artist Jiradej has used his clay to cast a set of human legs threaded together in a circle to represent the collaboration of different people for the development of ceramic arts in the country. He's also broken up a large Meiping-style vase made at the Tao Hong Tai factory and reconstructed the fragments to make a new one.

 "We shouldn't differentiate one thing from another by their visible forms. The form can change in different situations or as time passes. Two things may be different but similar," explains Jiradej.

Kultirat Meesaiyati, the design director for jewellery brand Gavang, has experimented to create a ceramic jewellery collection titled "Passion". Inspired by the human skeleton, the collection of 31 pieces in gold and silver shades features a ring, earrings, a pendant and bracelet, all of which can be assembled into one structure.

"I'm learning gradually through trial and error and need to study more about ceramics production. The bracelet is still too heavy so I'll have to try again to make it lighter. If results meet expectations, these pieces could be the latest addition to my lines," says Kultirat.

Fashion designer Jitsing has cast his own T-shirt, shorts, underwear and socks as ceramic works of art, and will be displaying them on hangers as if in a high-end boutique.

Wasinburee has also invited four veteran artists, Preecha Thaothong, Chai Rachawat, Pishnu Supanimit and Sriwan Janehuttakarnkit, to paint the coloured glazes on vases.

"Rather than being like a big tree giving shade to small plants, we want to act as fertiliser for young shoots to grow and finally become a forest," says Wasinburee.

 

"Chapter 75: Clay Overture" is being held at Bangkok's Playground from December 14 to January 3 daily from 10am to 10pm. The show will move to Tao Hong Tai ceramics factory in Ratchaburi until March 9. Visit clayoverture.blogspot.com.

 Khetsirin Pholdhampalit

 The Nation