Testimonial – Richard Henley – Studio 88 Artist Residency

Richard Henley is a multi-disciplinary designer from London with a background in set design and product design. He chose to come to Chiang Mai because of its rich craft culture and the opportunity to learn from local artisans. He was attracted to Studio 88 for its tranquil, natural environment away from the city’s hustle and bustle. He reflected his time during the residency with Studio 88 here.

During his residency, he focused on lighting designs and lighting structures. He worked with local craftspeople to bring his designs to life, incorporating ceramics, wood, metal, and fabrics. His goal was to combine these materials into cohesive pieces.

Richard’s background is design-focused, and while he doesn’t specialize in any one craft, he was grateful to have met skilled artisans through Studio 88. Studio 88 encouraged him to step outside his comfort zone and explore new mediums. Studio 88 also connected him with many talented individuals, leading to a truly collaborative project. This teamwork was helpful and improved the overall outcome of the project.

“Studio 88 was really helpful in assisting and pushing me to try new things, and also mostly helpful in introducing me to lots of very skilled people, and it became a really collaborative project.”

As the project progressed, he became increasingly confident in his ability to bring everything together into a finished product.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this residency was learning about the origins of materials, especially how fabric is hand-dyed. We crushed natural pigments to create colors, then dyed the fabric ourselves, allowing us to understand where everything comes from. This hands-on process was eye-opening for him, especially since he usually works digitally. In the digital world, he often just selects colors from endless options without considering where they come from.

Looking ahead, he plans to return to the design phase to refine and enhance his concepts. He is also eager to continue collaborating here in Chiang Mai and possibly participate in design festivals later, one of the collaboration was Studio 88 x Richard Henley during Chiang Mai Design Week 2024.