Exclusive Artist Talk Sessions Explore the Future of Textile Art and Craftsmanship
Bangkok, 13 February 2025 – Jim Thompson Home Furnishings captivated audiences at Bangkok Design Week 2025 with its “Design Up+Rising: A Beyond Silk Textile Installation”, an exhibition that brings a visionary approach to Thai textile artistry through the lens of contemporary design and innovation. A highlight of the exhibition was the Exclusive Talk Session: "Meet the Artists Behind the Masterpieces", where six leading artists engaged in a thought-provoking discussion with Jim Thompson on the creative potential of textiles as an artistic medium.
The session, hosted at the Jim Thompson Flagship Store on Surawong Road, provided a rare opportunity for design enthusiasts, industry professionals, and media representatives to gain firsthand insights from some of Thailand’s most influential contemporary artists. Featured speakers included Namfon Laistrooglai, P7, Suthee Kunavichayanont, Chalit Nakpawan, Pokchat Worasub, and The Aliens Gallery Galaxy, each of whom brought a unique perspective on the evolving role of textiles in modern artistry.
The session, hosted at the Jim Thompson Flagship Store on Surawong Road, provided a rare opportunity for design enthusiasts, industry professionals, and media representatives to gain firsthand insights from some of Thailand’s most influential contemporary artists. Featured speakers included Namfon Laistrooglai, P7, Suthee Kunavichayanont, Chalit Nakpawan, Pokchat Worasub, and The Aliens Gallery Galaxy, each of whom brought a unique perspective on the evolving role of textiles in modern artistry.
Exploring the Union of Textiles and Contemporary Art
The discussion examined the blurring of boundaries between craftsmanship and conceptual artistry, emphasizing how textiles extend far beyond their traditional uses. Artists shared their creative processes, inspirations, and challenges in using fabric as a primary medium, illustrating how textiles can convey cultural narratives, provoke thought, and push artistic boundaries.
The discussion examined the blurring of boundaries between craftsmanship and conceptual artistry, emphasizing how textiles extend far beyond their traditional uses. Artists shared their creative processes, inspirations, and challenges in using fabric as a primary medium, illustrating how textiles can convey cultural narratives, provoke thought, and push artistic boundaries.
Suthee Kunavichayanont, known for his thought-provoking installations, highlighted the symbolic depth of textiles, drawing a connection between the intricate layers of woven fabric and the multi-dimensional narratives of Thailand’s cultural heritage. Meanwhile, P7, a celebrated street artist, discussed how textiles can act as a canvas for urban expression, integrating traditional Thai motifs with contemporary design.
Chalit Nakpawan, renowned for his reflective mixed-media works, explored how textiles embody the journey of life, weaving together themes of fortune, adversity, and personal growth to symbolize lifelong learning. Similarly, Namfon Laistrooglai reimagined Jim Thompson’s fabric remnants through a process of deconstruction and reconstruction, transforming silk fibers and color gradations into modern artistic expressions that blend traditional weaving techniques with contemporary innovation.
The conversation also touched on the sustainability aspect of textile art, with Pokchat Worasub and The Aliens Gallery Galaxy discussing upcycling and repurposing discarded materials to create environmentally conscious installations. By combining traditional textile-making techniques with modern artistic sensibilities, the discussion underscored how fabric continues to evolve as a versatile and expressive medium in the world of art and design.
Jim Thompson’s Commitment to Innovation and Thai Craftsmanship
As a brand rooted in Thai textile heritage, Jim Thompson has long championed the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary creativity. The “Design Up+Rising : A Beyond Silk Textile Installation”, which remains on display throughout Bangkok Design Week 2025, serves as an embodiment of this vision, presenting a curated collection of textile-based works that challenge conventional notions of fabric’s role in design. Visitors can experience a range of meticulously curated showcase environments that reimagines the role of textiles in home décor, furniture, and artistic installations.
Chalit Nakpawan, renowned for his reflective mixed-media works, explored how textiles embody the journey of life, weaving together themes of fortune, adversity, and personal growth to symbolize lifelong learning. Similarly, Namfon Laistrooglai reimagined Jim Thompson’s fabric remnants through a process of deconstruction and reconstruction, transforming silk fibers and color gradations into modern artistic expressions that blend traditional weaving techniques with contemporary innovation.
The conversation also touched on the sustainability aspect of textile art, with Pokchat Worasub and The Aliens Gallery Galaxy discussing upcycling and repurposing discarded materials to create environmentally conscious installations. By combining traditional textile-making techniques with modern artistic sensibilities, the discussion underscored how fabric continues to evolve as a versatile and expressive medium in the world of art and design.
Jim Thompson’s Commitment to Innovation and Thai Craftsmanship
As a brand rooted in Thai textile heritage, Jim Thompson has long championed the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary creativity. The “Design Up+Rising : A Beyond Silk Textile Installation”, which remains on display throughout Bangkok Design Week 2025, serves as an embodiment of this vision, presenting a curated collection of textile-based works that challenge conventional notions of fabric’s role in design. Visitors can experience a range of meticulously curated showcase environments that reimagines the role of textiles in home décor, furniture, and artistic installations.
Speaking on the importance of this exhibition, Dao Vichada, Creative Director of Jim Thompson, stated, “Textiles are more than just materials; they are storytellers of culture, identity, and artistic innovation. Through collaborations with talented artists, Jim Thompson continues to push the boundaries of what textiles can achieve in the modern world.”
This year’s exhibition not only celebrated the artistic potential of fabric, but also reinforced Jim Thompson’s dedication to fostering dialogue within the creative community. The brand remains committed to collaborating with artists, designers, and craftspeople to drive innovation in textile applications, from home furnishings to large-scale installations.
Artworks That Redefine Textiles
This year’s exhibition not only celebrated the artistic potential of fabric, but also reinforced Jim Thompson’s dedication to fostering dialogue within the creative community. The brand remains committed to collaborating with artists, designers, and craftspeople to drive innovation in textile applications, from home furnishings to large-scale installations.
Artworks That Redefine Textiles
Among the standout pieces, P7’s “The Skinner Swimming” (2025) merges hand-painted acrylic and spray paint on Jim Thompson fabric, reflecting his dynamic, color-driven artistic style. The Aliens Gallery Galaxy’s “Køben & Havn” presents acrylic compositions on patchwork fabric, depicting abstract Nordic-inspired alien figures. Chalit Nakpawan’s “Art is Life, Life is Life” is a mixed media installation that represents personal and collective journeys of transformation.
Suthee Kunavichayanont’s “Balaclava: Concealment, Protection, and Threat” explores themes of identity, anonymity, and societal perception, using reclaimed textile materials to create wearable pieces that challenge notions of protection and visibility. Namfon Laistrooglai’s “Fiber Illusion” reinterprets traditional weaving techniques through a process of deconstruction and reconstruction, turning silk remnants into layered, textural artworks. Pokchat Worasub’s “I Wish I Could Talk to My Grandma Again” reflects on the declining tradition of handwoven textiles, incorporating fabric, pigment prints, and wooden frames to evoke themes of memory, loss, and cultural preservation.
A Gathering of Industry Leaders and Creative Visionaries
The Exclusive Talk Session attracted an audience of designers, architects, academics, and industry professionals, many of whom engaged in a lively Q&A session with the artists. The event underscored Bangkok Design Week 2025’s theme, “Design Up+Rising: Facing Challenges with a Positive Twist”, by demonstrating how textiles can inspire change, provoke conversation, and redefine the creative landscape.
With the success of this immersive exhibition and artist discussion, Jim Thompson continues to position itself at the forefront of textile innovation and contemporary design. As Bangkok Design Week 2025 progresses, visitors are encouraged to experience Design Up+Rising : A Beyond Silk Textile Installation, which remains on display at the Jim Thompson Flagship Store on Surawong Road until the conclusion of the festival on 23 February 2025.
Suthee Kunavichayanont’s “Balaclava: Concealment, Protection, and Threat” explores themes of identity, anonymity, and societal perception, using reclaimed textile materials to create wearable pieces that challenge notions of protection and visibility. Namfon Laistrooglai’s “Fiber Illusion” reinterprets traditional weaving techniques through a process of deconstruction and reconstruction, turning silk remnants into layered, textural artworks. Pokchat Worasub’s “I Wish I Could Talk to My Grandma Again” reflects on the declining tradition of handwoven textiles, incorporating fabric, pigment prints, and wooden frames to evoke themes of memory, loss, and cultural preservation.
A Gathering of Industry Leaders and Creative Visionaries
The Exclusive Talk Session attracted an audience of designers, architects, academics, and industry professionals, many of whom engaged in a lively Q&A session with the artists. The event underscored Bangkok Design Week 2025’s theme, “Design Up+Rising: Facing Challenges with a Positive Twist”, by demonstrating how textiles can inspire change, provoke conversation, and redefine the creative landscape.
With the success of this immersive exhibition and artist discussion, Jim Thompson continues to position itself at the forefront of textile innovation and contemporary design. As Bangkok Design Week 2025 progresses, visitors are encouraged to experience Design Up+Rising : A Beyond Silk Textile Installation, which remains on display at the Jim Thompson Flagship Store on Surawong Road until the conclusion of the festival on 23 February 2025.
