A Life Exhibition, “Thai Isan Silk: Contemporary Products from Traditional Silk” – another KKU’s indigenous knowledge transfer towards internationality

Thursday July 21, 2022 at 13:30 p.m. – KKU Library, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, and Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University, held an opening ceremony for the Life Exhibition, “Thai Isan Silk: Contemporary Products from Traditional Silk” at Room 1301, 3rd Floor, KKU Library. Assoc. Prof. Suphat Seenawat, M.D., Director of KKU Library presided over the ceremony. Miss Siriporn Thiwasing, Assistant to the Library Director for Human Resources and Community Relation delivered the reporting speech.

Miss Siriporn Thiwasing reported, “Khon Kaen University Library is an organization that provides academic support to the University and aims at being the “Learning Center for All” through support of the digital transformation and the learning society policies. Knowledge related to art and culture is another field of knowledge that enables people in the society to understand the dimension of humanities and social sciences of the country. It is the foundation for understanding of the changes in the world society. KKU Library holds this project – The Silk Story:  Wisdom, Art & Creative Economy  from Isan Thai Silk with an aim to promote arts and cultures that are the local wisdom and the symbol of the province for the public to learn about silk, as Khon Kaen is the city of the World’s Mad Mee.”

“The event that transfers knowledge about silk is arranged as an online discussion, including 3 Eps. from July 20 until 22, 2022. During July 20-31, 2022, there is the life exhibition on “Thai Isan Silk: Contemporary Products from Traditional Silk”. There are 10 products exhibited and 2 fashion shows at the KKU Library. This project is under the collaboration with the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts and the Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University. The two faculties provided consultation in planning the activities, coordination with the guest speakers, providing the moderator for the discussion, and contacting the alumni for the exhibition, contracting the models for the fashion show. The event is expected to let the attendants perceive the beauty of Mad Mee silk and its real use. The local wisdom will be extended towards creative economy, opening up the chance for learning and supporting Thai society to become a learning society.”

Assoc. Prof. Suphat Seenawat, M.D., Director of KKU Library mentioned in his opening address, “The Life Exhibition, Thai Isan Silk: Contemporary Products from Traditional Silk” event today is part of the project, the Silk Story: Wisdom, Art & Creative economy from Isan Thai Silk. The discussion organized will be online. The activities will give information about Mad Mee silk to interested people, as the silk is local wisdom of the province that can be linked to something contemporary. The project plays a part in supporting the mission of KKU in conserving Thai cultures and the policy related to lifelong education. Interested people can reach the knowledge of art and culture without any obstacle. The exhibition is not limited to lecturers and students of Khon Kaen University. It will create sustainability under the 4th goal of the University for sustainable development of education. Moreover, this occasion will also strengthen the city of Khon Kaen, for the city has held the silk festival every year for a long time and has been called “Khon Kaen, the World’s Mad Mee City”.

The event featured online discussion under the topic, “Come and listen to the process of making silk, a sufficient art weaving.” The activity was held on Wednesday July 20, 2022 at 14.00-16.00 p.m. and was led by Khun Suphanee Phulaenkee, a handicraft and art teacher of 2013 and the chairperson of Mad Mee Silk Community Enterprise of Ban Hua Fai, Chonnabot District, Khon Kaen. Other speakers included Khun Thonglert Sonjan, an expert in Eri silk of Khon Kaen and the chairman of the Weaving Group of Nong Ya Plong, Munjakhiri District, Khon Kaen; and Dr. Phakhinee Plengdeesakul, a lecturer of the Faculty of Architecture who is an expert in developing and extending products.

Another online discussion by ZOOM was on “The Route of Silk towards International Fashion Standard” arranged on Thursday July 21, 2022 at 14.00-16.00 p.m. Asst. Prof. Theerayut Phengchai, Ph.D., Vice President of Rajabhat University Udonthani and the Chairman of Textile Creative Design Center of Rajabhat University Udonthani; Ajarn Theera Chanthasawat, an expert in design, fashion and textile; and Dr. Phakhinee Plengdeesakul, a lecturer of the Faculty of Architecture who is an expert in developing and extending products.

On Friday July 22, 2022 , at 14:00-16:00 p.m. there was another online discussion on “Silk in the Eye of Customer, Original, Quality or Modern Design towards Internationality”. The discussion was led by Khun Nitda Phulaenkee, an heir of an art and craft expert, owner of Nitda Brand from Ban Hua Fai Sub-district, Chonnabot District, Khon Kaen; and Dr. Phakhinee Plengdeesakul, a lecturer of the Faculty of Architecture.

In addition to “The Life Exhibition, Thai Isan Silk: Contemporary Products from Traditional Silk”, KKU Library also organized the video show about the history, works and the genius of 4 Isan national artists in art of cloth: Khun Payom Seenawat (1986); Khun Khamson Sathong (2016); Khun Khampun Srisai (2018); and Khun Meechai Taesujariya (2021). The video is hoped to inspire the new generation to create their own quality works.

The exhibition will open for all from today until July 31, 2022 at Room 1301, 3rd Floor, Building 1, Khon Kaen University Library.

News; Watchara Noichompoo

Photos: Rawiporn Saisaenthong, Nititya Sriworadetpaisan

[Thai]

   

 

     

 

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