Asian designer: Sorrarin Tantiwatyano

Born in 1976 in Bangkok, Thailand, Asian designer Sorrarin Tantiwatyano completed her study at the prestigious Silapakorn University with a Master of Fine art (specialization in ceramic) from the renowned Otis College of Art and Design located in Los Angeles, California.

Creativity and functionality are the key concepts Sorrarin follows in each of her creations. She thrives on introducing beauty in our daily lives, creating artful decorative home accents with a practical use.

Asian designer Sorrarin started O-Clay Ceramic Company, ltd., with a group of young Thai designers in 1996, to manufacture and promote her creative ceramic accents to a larger audience.

Her trademark creations are her earthenware vases inspired by shapes and matters found in nature. She has also recently developed new lines of ceramic lamps and bathroom essentials that received a warm welcome from the home decor industry.

Sorrarin Tantiwatyano also teaches at different art and design faculties in Bangkok and has already exhibited her art ceramics in Thailand and the United States.


2000: images of tea pots, TADO contemporary art Gallery, Bangkok
2000: group ceramics exhibitions, Young Place Gallery, Bangkok
1997: the 2nd See-Moom-Muang, group ceramics exhibitions, Baan Chao-Praya, Bangkok
1996: the 1st See-Moom-Muang, group ceramics exhibitions, Future Park Rangsit, Bangkok
1995: group thesis exhibition from the Otis College of Art and Design Master students, Otis Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
1994: cognitive crimes, group exhibition, Abe & Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
1993 to 1995: annual ceramic exhibition, Abe & Bolsky Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
1991: 5th national ceramics exhibition of Thailand, Silapakorn University Gallery, Bangkok

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Asian designer: Worawat Chortabtim

Asian designer and artist Worawat Chortabtim was born in 1971 in Bangkok. He first graduated with a College degree in Art form the King Mongkut Institute of technology, before obtaining a Bachelor degree in interior design from the same institution.

His two passions are paintings and Asian art ceramics. Recently, he mostly paints, as he feels this is the medium let him most freely express his feelings and emotions.

His last series of paintings represent his imaginary city seen from the sky, with shades and colors varying through the seasons and times of the day. All the painting present a geometrical esthetic that makes them unique and highly decorative works of art. Worawat has a unique ability to play with shades and tones to create harmonious compositions. When relaxing, Worawat is also painting whimsical packs of dogs.

Worawat is enjoying a growing popularity and just held his first solo exhibition in Bangkok.

2004: solo exhibition, art at play – 7 days and 12 months, Silom Gallery, Bangkok
2004: 5 centuries of art, Silom Galleria Gallery, Bangkok
2001: man and clay, Asian designer 4th ceramics exhibition, Chaiprakan park, Bangkok
200: man and clay, Asian designer 2nd ceramics exhibition, Patrawadee Gallery, Bangkok

To view some of his Asian decor and Asian art creations, please visit: Asian decor
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Asian designer: the Ban Mara project

Ban Mara is a 1,000 inhabitant’s village located nearby the Cambodian border in the impoverished Northeastern Province of Thailand; the Esarn region.

Marc Thesmar, a retired French born businessman who formerly traveled the world as a sales representative for a Swiss company, first settled in this quiet village in 1997. He was shocked by the distress of its inhabitants, though often hidden behind a truthfully welcoming smile.

Knowing that a proper education is the key to a better future for the village children, he implemented different children sponsorship programs.

In 2002, willing to create a sustainable financial complement to the agricultural revenues, Marc, with the invaluable help of his friend Alex Lichtenauer, a furniture designer based in Alsace, France, set up an atelier to develop and fine tune the production of partition screens.

Thanks to the training provided by Marc and the innovative, restrained and contemporary Asian inspired designs created by Mr. Lichtenauer, the small production facility has dramatically expanded and now employs a growing number of employees. The project provides households with much needed supplementary incomes, especially in times of drought, when the harvest are insufficient.

Profits made from the production and sales of screens are also complemented by the generous contributions of individuals and help cover the schooling expenses of the village children (materials, books, uniforms).

To view some of the Ban Mara Asian decor creations, please visit: Asian decor
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Asian designer: Mimi Shada

A self-taught French artist and designer who arrived in Laos in 1993, Mimi was immediately impressed by the simple beauty of everyday Lao utensils, such as the coconut ladle, and started experimenting in new designs with local materials. His creations became à la mode and he went into production, beginning with a small workshop in a coconut grove.

As demand for his art and crafts grew, Mimi staged exhibitions in both Vientiane and Bangkok, and expanded his production facility by training local people in the preparation of raw materials and in the techniques of shaping them into works of aesthetic beauty.

His most popular creations include those featuring his distinctive coconut shell inlays. Mimi also sources old wood from obsolete houses and fixtures, salvaging and recycling seasoned pieces of perfect timber for a new life as beautiful design accents.

Since his arrival in Asia, Mimi has sponsored an under funded school in central Vientiane, Laos. The idea of educating people to take care of themselves is one of his central beliefs.

To this end, Mimi Shada began training jobless young people in Vientiane in 1993. Some of these artisans are still with him, and having mastered their tools and materials are now creating handicrafts and furniture from their own imagination. The success of his down to earth but efficient training methods was discovered, and in 1998, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) asked Mimi to create and run a training course for a group of unemployed people. The course proved popular with the participants and two more courses were commissioned between 2000 and 2002.

Noting the quality of Mimi’s creations, UNESCO then asked the company to provide a training course for carpenters and later invited Mimi to assist and train craftsmen for the renovation of a house in the World Heritage Site of Luang Phrabang, northern Laos.

To view some of his Asian decor creations, please visit: Asian decor
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Asian designer: Doi Tung

The Doi Tung Development Project under Royal Initiative

To address rural poverty and alleviate the hardship experienced by the inhabitants of the harsh mountainous terrain of the northern areas of Thailand, Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindara, the Princess Mother, late mother of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, inaugurated The Doi Tung Development Project under Royal Initiative in 1988. For over twenty years, the project has played a vital role in the transformation of the cultural and social structures of Chiang Rai, paving the way for a brighter future.

As agriculture alone could not provide ample or sustainable income to support the economic needs of the farming families and rural community of Doi Tung, Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother recognized that an effective reforestation and development program was needed to solve the social, economic and environmental problems of Doi Tung.

Alternative occupations were promoted through the Doi Tung Development Project to create jobs and provide employment opportunities as well as vocational training courses to facilitate the transfer of technical know-how and other essential skills in a wide range of areas, including handicraft-training courses. A large variety of creations have been introduced by the Doi Tung Development Project.

The cottage handicrafts industry is based on the indigenous skills in weaving, needlework and sewing. Staff employed by the centre work under the guidance and close supervision of designers and experts, who are engaged by the project to oversee the design and product development, and to take the lead in developing creative elements such as style, colors, fabric design and design innovation.

Doi Tung products are handcrafted from natural raw materials, many of them grown or harvested from the surrounding area. Natural cotton and silk are used in the production of textiles. Hemp and jute, reeds or vetiver grass are used for handmade interior décor products to create interesting textures and subtle variations. Every effort is made to ensure that Doi Tung products are environmentally friendly. Ethnic designs and traditional techniques are integrated with modern designs and techniques to create products with contemporary and international appeal.

Fabrics are woven on handlooms and then transformed into unique interior décor products. Fashion fabrics are tailored into a range of ready-to-wear attire and fashion accessories. Villagers are trained to produce tableware, garden-ware and art objects in ceramics. Every piece is hand-made.

Since its implementation, the Doi Tung Developmental Project has visibly raised the standard of living and quality of life for local residents. It has also helped to raise the level of social and environmental awareness within the local communities. The residents of Doi Tung now have a much better understanding of the interdependent relationship they share with nature, and the surrounding forests that support their livelihood, and the need for them to protect and conserve an environment upon which they depend for a sustainable future.

By purchasing creations from The Doi Tung Development Project, you not only acquire high quality handmade home décor products but also support its initiative and provide a brighter future to the inhabitants of remote area of Northern Thailand.

To view some Asian decor creations by Doi Tung, please visit: Asian decor
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Asian designer: Narttawat Thampipit

Narttawat Thampipit completed his formal education with a Master of Fine Art, specialization in graphic design, from the Academy of Art College, San Francisco, California, USA.

Back in Thailand after completing his studies, Narttawat quickly developed a passion for silk screen printing and its latest applications. Working closely with engineers and print specialists, he has significantly contributed to new developments in acrylic silk screen printing and their applications in home decor accents.

His trademarks creations are his contemporary lightings made from acrylic materials printed on different layers. The light source radiates through the different layers, creating fascinating holograms like contrast of colors and tones.

Narttawat has showcased his work in Bangkok on various occasions and has also already won different international awards.

Solo exhibitions:
2004: Inspired by 0, Bangkok University Rangsit campus, Bangkok
2004: Inspired by 0, Inspired by Inner Complexity, Bangkok, Thailand
2003: Inspired by 0, Siam Art Space, Bangkok, Thailand

Awards:
2001: award, Asia screen printing competition, SAGA 2001, Beijing, China
1998: Bronze Medal – industrial creations, Tokyo Screen Printing Competition, CMM Japan & JSPA’ Exposition
1998: Silver Prize, Graphic creations, Tokyo Screen Printing Competition, CMM Japan & JSPA’ Exposition
1998: Silver Prize, dean’s List, Academy of Art College, San Francisco, California, USA

To view some of his Asian decor creations, please visit: Asian decor
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Asian designer: Laurent Bedouelle

French born artist and designer Laurent Bedouelle set foot in Asia more than 10 years ago. Today, he is internationally recognized for his unique ability to design simple and elegant contemporary creations with an Asian twist.

Laurent thrives on creating contemporary design accents resorting only to natural materials abundant in Asia; such as copper, wood and silk. Through long years of cooperation with Asian crafts masters, Laurent has mastered the art of shaping these materials into elegant contemporary design forms.

Versatile and stirred by an incessant creative energy, Laurent also leads Intentio, an interior design company based in Bangkok and managing hotels, condominium and private residences decoration projects throughout South East Asia.

Laurent Bedouelle has worked on design commissioned by influential home decor brands such as SI Creation. He has also exhibited at the international Decoration Fair in Dubai as well as the prominent Maison et Objets Home Decor Professional Fair in Paris.

To view some of his Asian decor creations, please visit: Asian decor
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