INVENTOR, DESIGNER OR ARTIST? ART4D SPEAKS TO PAE THANAWAT MANEENAWA ABOUT HIS VARIOUS ROLES WHICH LEAD US TO QUESTION – WHAT DOES HIS STUDIO ‘TAM:DA’ EXACTLY DO?
TEXT: PRATARN TEERATADA
PHOTO COURTESY OF TAM:DA STUDIO
(For Thai, press here)
Whenever we think about TAM:DA STUDIO and its founder Thanawat ‘Pae’ Maneenawa, the spirit of an inventor, designer and artist, someone who gets together to create all things imaginable always comes to mind. It’s a continuous, restless process, turning the old into the new, and it just so happens that these new inventions have their own characters, sentiments, flairs and tastes, each telling a memorable story. Today, art4d invites Thanawat to talk about TAM:DA and find out more about what he does exactly.
art4d: What inspired you to take a serious interest into this realm of being a serious maker?
Thanawat Maneenawa: I think it comes from me being quite a restless thinker. I tend to enjoy letting my mind wander. With a creative background working in event organization, I have always liked to put all sorts of different pieces together, having fun with them, turning them into design objects or art pieces. That’s why I call the studio TAM:DA, because I basically do everything.
art4d: How would you categorize the works you have created?
TM: I divide them into three categories. The first type of work is what I do for fun, depending on a trend and situation that is being talked about at the time. I would share them on my page. Then there are works I make to be sold. If I come by some interesting materials, and think that they would make a good product, I’ll use it. Lastly, there are the projects, which can come in the form of clients who are brands, social enterprises or organizations, or community art projects.
art4d: Which works or projects do you think embody your signature style?
TM: All of them. I don’t hold on to a specific style of visuals but emphasize on how I can play with a material and the creativity within a concept or idea that a client gives me.
art4d: What are you working on at the moment?
TM: Right now I’m focusing on client projects. There is one that has just been launched recently. It’s a ‘giant’ I did and is now sited at Ecotopia Pavilion Bukit jalil Malaysia. I’m also working on a piece of art to decorate an office for a food delivery company.
art4d: Do you have any experiences you want to share with the young generation creatives and makers?
TM: Out of may days of working with objects, there is one experience I want to share. I worked on this project where I designed assistive tools for children with cerebral palsy to use in their daily life. I worked together with Creative Citizen and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation designing handles for pen, pencils, toothbrushes and cups. The designs were later produced and donated to children with cerebral palsy nationwide. But before that, we had to test to sure that the tools were actually really effective. On the trial day, the children and the parents were so happy. We had volunteers helping us make over ten thousand pieces. That day was such a fulfilling experience. What I’m saying is that when you are able to use your ability, skills and experience to help other people, it’s incredibly rewarding.
