Close Window

Praiwan

"My name is Praiwan Suppaso. I was born in Chiang Rai province but my parents came from northeast Thailand. I'm the youngest son in my family and have one brother and one sister. As a child, I was like any ordinary country boy – running, fishing, playing in the rice field. My parents moved to another city to find a job, so they couldn't stay with their children as much as they wished to. But everybody in our home took excellent care of us. I really admire my father. He was a good man with a high sense of responsibility and was good model for his child. He will be my hero forever.

"In 1988, I come to Lamphang province in preparation for my monk ordination ceremony in 1990. I became a monk and studied Buddha's teachings for one year in a temple there, but I left to take care of my father in the hospital. He passed away in 1992, and at that point I returned to the temple for a time, and continued my life as a monk.

"Later, in 1994, I worked briefly as a driver at a ceramics center. After one week on the job I managed to change my position to the ceramics science staff. At first I thought ceramics were only dishes, cups, and so on. But experts from Japan, for example, teach new techniques at the center where I worked. I began to develop a deep appreciation for the art. I realized that ceramic work isn’t easy – it is a wondrous medium, and I wanted to learn more and more; ceramics sparked a never-ending quest for knowledge for me.

"All the time at the center, I was learning from the many experts there, training constantly. I met my wife when she became an apprentice collegian in product design. We married when I was 26 years old. In 2001, my wife's mother passed away and my wife wanted to take care of her father, so I started my own workshop. After eight years in the ceramic center, I missed everybody so much. I'd had a good boss there, good friends and good jobs, all of which gave me a lot of spirit and confidence when setting off to make my own way along this chosen path.

"My son was born in 2002. That was such a powerful experience for me. I have a good wife and son to walk together with me now. I know I'm not alone.

"Crafting good ceramics remains a satisfying challenge. I love my art. Every ceramic I make is a result of my love, my earnestness, and my care in every step of the process. I constantly adapt and perfect them, and each one is entirely handmade. This guarantees good quality for my customers. I think and research before making a new design. "