From November until the end of February 2017, akyra Manor Chang Mai is celebrating the heritage of craftsmanship and showcasing the thriving artistic community in the northern Thai city with an exhibition that shines a light on three home-grown talents.A three-month exhibition, exclusively hosted by akyra Manor Chiang Mai – the intimate, all-suite luxury hotel located on the city’s trendy Nimmana Haemin Road – showcases paintings, handicrafts, and green products for the home inspired by nature and Buddhism.
“Chiang Mai has long been known for its traditional handicrafts, but it is also a destination simmering with creativity. The artistic community is a very much thriving here and hopefully we can capture the essence of that by providing a platform to connect artists with collectors and buyers. We hope to be hosting more of these exhibitions as they perfectly complement the akyra philosophy of bringing dynamic designs to happening locations,” said Christophe Gestin, Hotel Manager, akyra Manor Chiang Mai.
Three local artists and brands – Vichit Chaiwong, Bua Bhat, and Cotton Farm – have been handpicked to showcase their work, all of which are on display throughout the hotel. Born in Chiang Mai, Vichit Chaiwong is an accomplished artist whose two keen interests include the Poy Sang Long – the ordination of novice monks by the Shan people of Myanmar and northern Thailand, and the colourful natural beauty of Chiang Mai in different seasons. These passions are beautifully featured in a selection of 11 works of art, which include a series of four portraits of the “Jewelled Princess” painted using a palette knife technique, and an oil on canvas representation of Phrathat Phusi in Luang Prabang, a twin city of Chiang Mai and one the artists often visits.
Bua Bhat, which means “sunflower” in the Northern Thai dialect, is known for its local handmade products that are contemporary in design and eco-friendly by nature. Inspired by the natural world and the essence of Buddhism, the homegrown brand’s fun-loving home decorative items also enable village women to maintain their traditional livelihood with an up-cycling solution that also helps solve the waste issue in Thailand’s textile industry.
Born and raised in a family of craftspeople, Premruedee Kullasu Is an expert in the art of hand-woven cotton. The tradition is often overlooked in Thailand’s rush to compete in the global marketplace, but it is one that is highly regarded in Japan, where she spent two years after graduating from Chiang Mai University. Premruedee’s research resulted in the birth of a new brand offering intricate handmade cotton clothing and home accessories that she affectionately named Cotton Farm. The contemporary handicrafts are 100% made in Chiang Mai, from cotton harvested by hand. They are also 100% non-toxic as the colours are all natural – created out of everything from indigo to cumin – and hence environmentally friendly too.
