The Internationality segment of a series introducing Kawashima Textile School (KTS). At KTS, which has international recognition in the handweaving community, unique connections have developed, in which students of former students who have since become educators in the textile field, come to study. In Parts 9 and 10, we will bring you interviews with a teacher and student. First, we talk to the student, Aroonprapai Rojanachotikul, about how she came to know KTS from her teacher, what was memorable about her studies, and what weaving means to her.
 |
| Aroonprapai organizing samples for her class |
Aroonprapai Rojanachotikul (Nickname: Prang) (Thai)
Textile Artist and Natural Dye and Pigment Specialist
Currently living in Thailand
Courses: Natural Dyeing Workshop (2013), Beginners, Foundation Kasuri, Applied Kasuri I, II, III* (October 2014 to February 2015)
*now part of Applied Kasuri II
-Could you tell us why you chose to study at KTS? How did your teacher introduce you to our school?
After I graduated in Textile Design from Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand in 2012, I returned to Thailand. I trained and worked as a Brocade weave artist at Hariphunchai Institute of Handwoven Textiles. After a year, I realized I wanted to explore more on other weave techniques. Suddenly I remembered while studying at Massey, my teacher, Flora Waycott showed us her Kasuri weave she did while I was in my second year at university. She mentioned that it was KTS based in Kyoto, Japan.
I searched through the Internet and found KTS. I checked out workshops and courses that were available at the time for international students. I chose to apply for the Natural Dyeing "Colors of the Heian Period" workshop in 2013 first to survey the facilities, courses, and environment. I had such an amazing time at the school and decided that I will be back to do the Kasuri courses.
In 2014, I returned to KTS once again for a much longer stay. I was thrilled and excited so I contacted Flora instantly to tell her that I followed her footprint to Kyoto and found KTS. She wished me good luck and to enjoy my time in KTS.
-What do you remember most about your time studying at KTS?
All the staff and students were very friendly. They reached out and tried to help as much as they could. I met a group of wonderful people from various fields, some were already involved in textile, some were curious about textile and wanted to learn about it. We had fun traveling through Kyoto and learned about the life and culture together. I still recall vividly how Hori-sensei managed to help me through many, many colour corrections when my dye session wasn't going as planned. Friendships that came from many Japanese students that helped me out when beaming my kasuri warp on a super cold, gloomy and snowy day. They made sure that I ate, when I refused to come out of my loom while trying to finish my weave just before Christmas break approached. When I was sick, everyone was making sure I was alright. There were so many memorable moments for me while I was at KTS. I really consider it another home away from home.
 |
"My work, and also small samples for the workshop I teach. It is a traditional technique for making Palm leaves manuscript cover, made as offerings to the temple. It is made by using bamboo strips and thread woven together. It is a combination of weave and crochet. This technique can only be found in Mae Chaem district in Chiangmai. Nowadays, only a few people practice this technique." |
Since I am now also teaching, I think KTS has influenced how I teach. What I learned at KTS was to be thorough, accurate, and mindful in every process, which I think was a very good way to learn and be taught. Therefore, when I teach, I want my students to be well guided like I did when I was at KTS. It also helps my own personal practice to be systematic and detailed.
-What does weaving mean to you?
As time goes by, for me the meaning of weaving has changed a lot. Weaving was a way for my creative output to express myself, to connect mind and craft together. Sometimes, even as a stress relief remedy. Now, the connection between weave and I have deepened. I consider myself as a tool where I become a loom, my hands are the shuttles and my mind is doing all the threading and shafts lifting. It has certainly become more meaningful over the years. The bond between weaving and me, no longer stays just behind a loom and textiles I created. It influences my life philosophy and broadens my perspective. When weaving, mistakes were made and learned. Almost anything is fixable. That has become my principle and how I teach my students now too, to not be afraid of making mistakes and just go for it.
Follow Aroonprapai on instagram at @prang_aroon.
