Writer and editor Sakunee Nattapoolwat and textile artist Chatrawee Thongnak are joining us at the inaugural “Studio 88 x NY20+ Residency“, 1-30 April in Chengdu, China. Find out more about them and their plans for the upcoming residency.
Sakunee “Koi Sakunee” Nattapoolwat
An accomplished writer, editor and illustrator, Sakunee Nattapoolwat (aka Koi Sakunee) discovered a real passion for art about six years ago. Since then, she has studied pottery in India, completed an illustration course in Italy, and showcased her artworks at numerous solo and group exhibitions in Thailand and overseas.
One of the recurring themes in her work are nature and environment but she feels that she still hasn’t quite found her voice as an artist: “It is necessary to be patient and practice hard to find my own voice. At this time, I do not know whether I already find it or not. But I feel happy drawing and painting and yes, making a pottery as well.”
Sakunee also enjoys producing watercolour paint from materials occurring in nature, such as soil, rock, flowers or leaves, and she experiments with printmaking by using a recycled and re-purposed pasta maker.
During the residency, Sakunee’s project will look into the environmental impact on the daily lives of villagers and the influence of the surrounding forest, river, and natural landscapes on their way of life. She will then create a picture book based on her findings. She also hopes to deepen her own understanding of the natural environment and the many materials she will find during her exploration.
Chatrawee Thongnak
Chatrawee is a textile designer fascinated by natural dyes such as indigo, teak leaves, or Indian almond leaves. She enjoys experimenting with new plants to extract new colours and is a skilled weaver specializing in cotton and silk fabrics.
She draws inspiration from nature and flowers which she often uses symbolically in her work. Her artwork is deeply influenced by nature and her own personal journey, including experiences related to her father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
During her residency Chatrawee will work on an installation “Memory of Petals in Chengdu”, inspired by her father’s condition. She will weave a story of faded memories in silk covered in traditional Chinese flower patterns. The silk symbolises things that are precious to us and flower lines are a metaphor representing good, beautiful memories: “Memories blooming vivid memories and slowly fading away but even then, new memories appear in parallel.”
“My goal is to make people understand patients who are dealing with the disease. Caregivers, too, must have an appreciation, sympathy, and compassion for the patient and the caregiver’s mental state, love, and understanding.”
The “Studio 88 x NY20+ Residency for Thai Artists” program is inspired by the traditional Bashu culture of Sichuan, and designed for artists interested in exploring local cultural heritage and ecology, and the interplay between tradition and modernity. The two artists will be introduced to the elements of the Bashu traditions, as well as local handicraft, history and patterns, and free to experiment with incorporating them into their own art.
Situated in Chengdu, Sichuan, NY20+ is an art promotion organization committed to international cultural exchanges, and strengthening cooperation among art institutions and art practitioners, art teachers and students. Its sprawling 141,000-square-meter campus is divided into three themed zones, providing ample space for exhibitions, workshops and cultural events.
Studio 88 Artist Residency 
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