Thai artist weaves the past, present and future in his works

WEAVING, to Thai artist Santi Wangchuan, is more than just knotting and hand-joining threads together to create textile pieces. It's a day-to-day lifestyle and the force which holds the family and community together.

"It ties together our lifestyle, spirituality and occupation; it strengthens Thai traditions and it's an expressive skill," shares the 28-year-old artist who grew up in a multi-generational family of traditional weavers.

He learnt his skills from his grandmother, but after the Masters of Visual Arts graduate from Silpakorn University returned home, he found that he had to re-engage with a dying craft as handwoven baby cribs and beddings became replaced by machine-made objects.