Tawan Lapla exhibition with Studio 88 artist-in-residence Ben Robinson

American artist Ben Robinson will return to Chiangmai after his July residency at Studio 88 to present the work Tawan Lapla (Sunset) at Raming Tea House Siam Celadon, from 29 December 2023 to 29 February 2024, with an opening reception on 29 December at 2pm.

Tawan Lapla (Sunset) is an approximately four-meter-long cotton cloth with a combination of natural dying, eco printing, and cyanotype photograms. It is inspired by the local artisans that Ben learnt from during his time in Doi Saket. They taught him several sustainable, all-natural artistic processes which he used to create this piece. Hints of the knowledge they passed on are present in the cyanotype photograms.

Accompanying the cloth piece are 5 cyanotype portraits honouring: Premruedee Kulsu, Wilai Praijitkanjanakul, Sornsak Wongjarin, Pansa Buamali, Chanika Wutticharoen. Without all of these knowledgeable teachers, this project would not have been possible. They are keeping Thai traditional arts alive, while also pushing them past ever-expanding boundaries.

Ben explains that he admires their innovative practices, connection to the land, and dedication to their craft. Ben discovered that they all felt a similar meditative peace when working with their hands and he found that working solely with physical elements and gathering materials from the surrounding nature was healing. This project also forced Ben to slow down, relinquish control, enjoy the process, explore and experiment, all of which is evident in the piece itself, which represents the journey of creation. The finished piece evokes visions of an abstracted landscape, tying together the land, the people, and their craft.

Born in Dillsboro, a rural town in southern Indiana (USA), Ben studied photography at Indiana University and received his BFA, along with a minor in Art History, in 2016. He currently lives and works as an art teacher in Bangkok, Thailand.