Understanding

Over centuries, southeast Asia has nurtured its creative landscape through the diversity of its peoples, the movements of migration, colonization, and globalization. Today, the broad spectrum of cultural expressions is struggling to find its place in the modern world but if one scratches the surface, it is not difficult to dive back into an incredible sea of cultural diversity.

I have noticed over the years that this cultural wealth is often underappreciated by locals, including young designers. The majority of them are attracted by “new designs”, and the lack of documentation on intangible cultures means that they also lack exposure and awareness about the cultures nearest to them. In an age of sprouting condominiums and shopping malls, traditional knowledge is depicted with nostalgia, but is rarely presented as being creative or innovative. It is perceived as something requiring “modern improvements” even if artisan communities behind such practices have been living sustainably over centuries and have produced original designs, which hold tremendous value for the generations ahead.

Last August, I was in Chiang Mai (Thailand) to interview Chatchawan Thongdeelert, Founder of the Lanna Wisdom School. He shared a story from 35 years ago when he went from Bangkok to villages in northern Thailand to introduce new technologies and equipment to farmers. This government-led initiative was to increase income-generation for farmers and train locals on the notion of “economic development”. A year after his intervention, he went back to the area only to realize that farmers had fallen into debt by procuring too much equipment. “What had I done? I created unnecessary problems to communities that used to be completely sustainable on their own.” His own mistake inspired him to create the Lanna Wisdom School, a place to restore the respect for humanity through the cultural assets and knowledge of villagers, a place for learning where “old and new flow together”.

“One must understand the roots, before introducing new ways.”

“For the most part, people talk about economic crisis as a serious matter. They talk about political crisis as a serious matter. From my point of view, a crisis of culture is even more serious. Culture reflects the very roots of our lives; it reflects who we are and where we come from. It reflects the very soul of a people. When a way of life or the spirit of a people disappear, its value and meaning go with it. This is an important point.”*

There is an increasing tendency to teach and introduce market-driven urban solutions in connection to traditional content or contexts, including handicrafts. Instead of forcing inadequate change, schools and institutions should develop a better understanding of local assets, and play a role in documenting and replenishing the fundamental roots and local essence of cultures in peril.

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* C. Thongdeelert - excerpt from ‘The Travelling Soul’ by Chamni Thipmanee © 2012