NEW VALUE OF LOCAL MATERIAL “ERI SILK”:ARTISTIC EXPRESSION IN TEXTILE ART AND CRAFT

Abstract

Textile art is a creative field involving the making of textiles. For many years, textile art has been developed dramatically in terms of process-methods, translating ideas and creative expression. In Thailand, textile art seems to refer only to ethnic textiles, it does not include contemporary textile art practice. However, the significance of a material beyond the surface of the physical textile art object it constructs has hardly been described. Thailand still lacks knowledge on the development of local materials through artistic expression. This study undertakes to examine a material in textile art. The role of a material in textile art has remained unexpressed, and thus should be elucidated. The research recognizes the importance of “Eri silk”, a local material in Thailand. It has the unique fibrous properties that has an environmentally friendly production process and aesthetics. Eri silk has high potential to be an important material to carry on the art of Thai textile. Eri silk is a new kind of silk that can be a textile material of the future.

The purpose of this research is to study traditional textile knowledge and hand making skill in contemporary art practice in order to enhance new value of local material “Eri silk” through art practice and artistic expression. To create a new perspective of textile art and craft using local material “Eri silk” through art practice and artistic expression. To propose new value of Thai local material “Eri silk” integrating aesthetic knowledge of art and craft using artistic expression in textile art and craft. The outcome of this research study is the textile art and craft carpet from local material “Eri Silk” this towards the opportunity to emphasize the meaning of the quality of natural material that exists in the community.

This research is a practice-based research combined with applied research. In this research, note taking, tape recording, in-depth interviews with field experts, literature reviews, research studies, photographing applied to primarily identify the concept of “Artistic Expression in Textile Art Craft”. The result of this research is to create textile art that represents the relationship between local material “Eri silk” and artistic expression through art practice, focusing on experimental knowledge of craft processes. Technical knowledge and hands-on experience lead to a deep understanding of the art of weaving. The experiments’ results were able to merge traditional processes with the textile elements, construction and concept. This sheds light on ways of enhancing the value of local material “Eri silk” in physical realization of an artist’s idea into tangible forms of meaningful artwork.

Knowledge integration, artistic ability, aesthetics, philosophy, and local wisdom based on the "Circular Economy" concept, along with the environment-oriented developmental approach of the 21st-century world, fuel the growth of the “Green economy” and support sustainable development. These ideas are the answers to the development of “Eri silk” in the future, under a broad framework of national development according to the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. Therefore, this could become a model and reference point for other communities - those who share the same values - to contribute to the propagation of craft culture and material knowledge through textile disciplines.

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