EXPLORE THE 10-YEAR JOURNEY OF LAMUNLAMAI. CRAFTSTUDIO THROUGH 300 CERAMIC PIECES, EACH WITH UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS TIED TO THEIR STORIES

TEXT: SURAWIT BOONJOO
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAMUNLAMAI. CRAFTSTUDIO EXCEPT AS NOTED

(For Thai, press here) 

Vessel No. 296: We represent ourselves in this.

“Ten years ago, for Mai’s thesis, we crafted this cup, in this shape and this color, together. A decade later, we’re still making cups—in countless shapes and forms—together.” (…)

Vessel No. 296 is a compact, reddish-brown stoneware cup distinguished by dynamic movements that both harmonize and conflict. Its continuously tapering curved form intersects with layered diagonal carved lines that traverse the entire exterior surface, creating a visual tension that’s both captivating and thought-provoking. This distinctive piece is one of three hundred Pots of Purpose—ceramic vessels shaped, painted, and fired entirely by hand—to commemorate the 10th anniversary of LAMUNLAMAI. CRAFTSTUDIO. Founded by Nol Netprom and Nopkamon Akarapongpaisan, LAMUNLAMAI. CRAFTSTUDIO is where ceramics are crafted with love and a profound belief in the medium’s ability to convey meaning and encapsulate emotions, transcending mere aesthetics and utility. 

Pots of Purpose spans a diverse array of shapes, colors, textures, and even uses. Each of the three hundred pieces is meticulously crafted to embody unique characteristics, each tied to stories of challenges faced and failures overcome by LAMUNLAMAI. over the past decade. These narratives extend beyond the personal—they are universal experiences that resonate with us all. This project was conceived to share and pass on these “objects of memory,” serving as tokens of encouragement for their holders. Presented in the form of an exhibition to involve viewers, to foster their participation and underscore a collective growth—not just of the artists, but also of their followers and supporters who have been instrumental in propelling them forward.

Nopkamon (Mai) delves into the essence of each ceramic piece: “Every cup carries its own meaning, shifting with its name and story. The special techniques we select for crafting each one are intentional—whether it’s the clay, the materials, or even the glazes we choose. When people ask why we do this, it’s because we want to showcase our capabilities in ceramic creation. We’ve spent years experimenting and uncovering the possibilities of blending various materials, expressed through forms, colors, decorations, glazes, and even the minerals we incorporate into each cup. These works are grouped into series, like our white-blue collection, popular since LAMUNLAMAI.’s early days, others include gradient glazes, or found-object shapes we reinterpret with a touch of humor. For example, on those days when ‘life gives you a lemon,’ you might as well pour some vodka into the martini-shaped cup we’ve designed.’

At the exhibition, ‘Pots of Purpose: A 10-year Journey into Purposeful Design and Sustainable Craftsmanship,’ curated by Nim Niyomsin at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, ceramic works owned by supporters are displayed alongside LAMUNLAMAI.’s cups—all three hundred pieces arranged sequentially on the wall. Beyond the cups, the semicircular space is thoughtfully divided into three main sections—Concern, Collaboration, and Consideration—guiding visitors through past milestones and into future paths.

The first section, Concern, is articulated through the Lifetime Collection, born from the founders’ studies and material experiments during their master’s degrees in the United Kingdom. These pieces showcase innovative applications of leftover food waste as substitutes for minerals, alongside experiments in creating special glaze formulas and unique clay mixtures—proposing a vision for sustainable ceramic art. Following this is the ceramic wall in the Consideration section, displaying all three hundred ‘Pots of Purpose,’ interspersed and maintaining the narrative’s continuity with the Collaboration section with infographic of conceptual ideas and experimental approaches to colors and materials. This arrangement reveals an earnest effort to utilize skills and materials available in Thailand, emphasizing collaboration between the craft studio and local entrepreneurs, manufacturers, regional materials, and skilled artisans across the country.

In a non-linear yet cohesive storytelling format, the exhibition playfully navigate a landscape- diverse, rugged, and distorted from what has existed. This story is sculpted through the forms, appearances, handles, rims, patterns, and unique textures of each vessel—each element provoking thought and inviting deeper contemplation of these specific objects of memory. Every piece is crafted as an extension of the intricate network of stories inherent in each cup. In this context, the three hundred ceramic works—Pots of Purpose—serve as intermediary objects, intended to create dialogue, intertwining connections between the creators, the cups, the stories, and the users. The storytelling cuts and weaves between the past and the imminent future, much like ‘a perfect cup that comes in an imperfect shape.’

Come immerse yourself in these vessels and explore their stories at the exhibition ‘Pots of Purpose: A 10-year Journey into Purposeful Design and Sustainable Craftsmanship,’ running from October 29 to November 17, 2024, on the fifth floor of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. Anticipate the forthcoming publication of a pocketbook that delves into the essence of LAMUNLAMAI. CRAFTSTUDIO, set to be released soon.

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