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Khun Santiparp

“My name is Pongphol Santiparp but I am also called 'Khun' Santiparp, which in English is equivalent to 'Mister' Santiparp. I was an only child born on the 27th of July 1969 in Nakorn Phannom Province. I graduated from the 'Seventh Day Adventist High School' in Singapore, and then I came to Chiang Mai to study Hotel Management at the Payap University.

“The Royal Palace employed my ancestors as Benjarong craftsmen for the Royal Court in Bangkok. Through the generations, my family operated out of Bangkok, where my grandmother began the first family shop after receiving a commission from the Royal Family. Though now devoted to the public, my family maintains the exquisite Siamese craftsmanship. One day, one of my mother’s cousins persuaded her for some reasons to establish a Benjarong workshop here in Chiang Mai. She asked me what I thought of the idea and whether I would help her to set it up or not. Of course I agreed with the idea. So, my mother opened this shop in 1991, and I began working with her after having completed my bachelor degree. Today, I employ 14 talented workers who genuinely love Benjarong and who put their heart into its making. Without this love they would not be able to craft these wares that require such an extreme patience and solid experience. Young people regularly come here hoping to become Benjarong artisans. But it is a difficult job and most of them quickly give up … or more precisely run away.

“My work is really a genuine Thai handicraft that originated during the later Ayudhaya period, 400 years ago. I learned everything I know from my mother, from Benjarong artisans and from books. I now only produce limited quantities of fine quality Benjarong. The master painter and I design together both forms and motifs of each piece. My family for a long time has used most of its own motifs as well as standard ones, taken from historical books. I do not particularly want to change these motifs, which I find beautiful, but I admit frequently taking a piece like a tea pot and giving it a fresh modern look to satisfy the Occidental markets. And to satisfy my customers with modern shapes and new motifs is the greatest challenge in my work. Because I found blending Occidental and Thai style a very difficult thing to do, our cultures being so different and sometimes so conflicting.

“I used to exhibit my work in the cities of Lampang and Chiang Rai where I was awarded with medals. I also came second in Novica’s contest and received an award as well. By the way I think it is a good chance to have Novica providing the world with our Benjarong. Moreover, marketing through the Internet is a great and modern way to reach customers. I want to tell all these customers that my Benjarong is handmade and it takes me time and patience to present it to you. It represents a genuine art and important cultural and historical values. My goal is to make perfectly crafted Benjarong and to present it to the world.”