Category: The Bangkok Post

Electrolux Group has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and its long-term ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its entire value chain by 2050. Speaking at the SX Sustainability Expo 2025, Southeast Asia’s largest platform for sustainable innovation, Alexis Richard, General Manager of Electrolux Thailand, underscored the company’s progress in advancing circularity as part of its ‘For the Better 2030’ framework.

He also highlighted the Group’s latest target to increase the share of recycled steel and plastic by weight to 35% by 2030 in its global manufacturing, reinforcing Electrolux’s goal of embedding sustainability throughout its product lifecycle.

The For the Better 2030 sustainability framework is built upon three core pillars – Better Company, Better Solutions, and Better Living – as well as the Group’s defined Climate Goals. Its measurable actions span enhancing operational efficiency with reduced environmental impact, strengthening supply chain responsibility, advancing consumer experiences through energy- and resource-efficient product innovations, and driving meaningful community engagement.

‘Sustainability is an integral part of our global strategy,’ said Mr Richard. ‘As the regional commercial hub for Asia, with our Rayong factory serving as one of our global manufacturing sites, Thailand plays a key role in achieving our sustainability targets – particularly by introducing sustainable products to local consumers. We offer circular solutions that enable people to prepare great-tasting food, care for their clothes so they stay new for longer, and enjoy healthier well-being at home.’

Electrolux Group achieved its first science-based climate target in 2022, three years ahead of schedule, and has since set a more ambitious goal to achieve net-zero emissions – reducing operational carbon emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 85% and product-related emissions (Scope 3) by 42% by 2030.

‘With two-thirds of global consumers considering sustainability an important criterion when purchasing home appliances, being recognised as a sustainability leader is a major advantage,’ Mr Richard added. ‘We will continue to push ourselves and the entire industry towards even bolder commitments that make sustainable living the new standard.’

The company’s leadership in sustainability has been recognised with the EcoVadis Gold rating, placing Electrolux Group among the top 5% of more than 70,000 companies globally for responsible business practices and sustainable innovation.

About Electrolux Group

Electrolux Group is a leading global appliance company that has shaped better living for more than a century. It reinvents taste, care, and well-being experiences for millions of people worldwide, continually striving to advance sustainability through its products and operations. Under its portfolio of leading brands – including Electrolux, AEG, and Frigidaire – the Group sells household products in around 120 markets each year. In 2024, Electrolux Group reported sales of SEK 136 billion and employed approximately 41,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.electroluxgroup.com or www.electrolux.co.th.

Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut is urging the government to withdraw its plan to hold a referendum on the controversial memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Cambodia signed in 2000 and 2001, saying such complex international issues fall squarely within the government’s remit — not the public’s.

Mr Natthaphong, who heads both the opposition and the People’s Party (PP), voiced strong reservations about Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s proposal to let the public decide on whether Thailand should retain or revoke the two MoUs — known as MoU 43 and MoU 44 — which define frameworks for resolving land and maritime boundary disputes with Cambodia.

Citing a recent Nida Poll, he said around 70% of respondents admitted they had little or no understanding of the MoUs’ content, with 44% saying they did not understand them at all.

This, he said, raises serious doubts about whether a referendum could genuinely reflect the people’s will.

“A referendum can only represent the people’s voice when voters are well-informed,” he said. “Educating and engaging the public is far more important than the act of voting itself.”

He noted that the MoUs are filled with technical and diplomatic details that cannot be explained in short public forums or campaign-style communication. Some sections are so sensitive that parliamentary discussions have had to be held behind closed doors.

Without full, balanced information, he warned, the results would be superficial and misleading.

Mr Natthaphong added that responsibility for the MoUs lies with the executive branch.

“The people have already entrusted the management of international relations and national security to the government. Passing the decision to the public is an abdication of responsibility,” he said.

He also voiced concern that holding the referendum alongside the next general election would confuse voters, who must already cast two ballots for constituency and party-list MPs.

“The public would be overwhelmed by multiple complex issues at once,” he said. “We must question whether this serves national interests or political agendas, especially when parliament will be dissolved in four months.”

The PP leader reaffirmed that his party would oppose the government’s referendum plan if it proceeds without ensuring the public receives accurate and comprehensive information from all sides.

However, he said, the party respects democratic principles and will accept the outcome if the process is transparent.

“If the process is flawed, we risk getting results which are meaningless and damaging,” he said, urging Prime Minister Anutin to allow qualified personnel and institutions — such as diplomats, security agencies, and relevant ministries — to handle the issue professionally.

Echoing these concerns, PP party-list MP Rangsiman Rome said holding a referendum without adequate public understanding would be dangerous.

He noted that the House of Representatives has already formed a special committee, chaired by Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society and Bhumjaithai Party Secretary-General, to study the potential consequences of cancelling the MoUs and compile expert opinions.

“Even many MPs do not fully understand the details,” Mr Rangsiman said. “For a referendum to be meaningful, people must know exactly what they’re voting for. Otherwise, it’s just symbolic.”

Senator Pisit Apiwattanapong said the government should first explain whether the MoUs benefit or harm national security. “If you ask those who know versus those who don’t, the answers will differ,” he said. “It’s the government’s duty to educate the public.”

The Board of Investment (BoI) has granted approval to Homa Appliances (Thailand) Co, a unit of China’s leading refrigerator exporter, to set up two manufacturing facilities in Thailand.

According to Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary-general of the BoI, Homa Appliances received approval from the BoI on Sept 30 for an investment of 2.96 billion baht.

One of the facilities will produce smart refrigerators, while the other one will manufacture freezers with EU energy efficiency standards.

“Homa’s investment underscores the growing trend of smart appliance and white goods manufacturers establishing a presence in Thailand in recent years,” said Mr Narit. “Between January 2022 and August 2025, project applications in this sector amounted to a combined value of about 200 billion baht, driven largely by high-value investments from leading Chinese companies. These projects not only create manufacturing jobs for Thais but also expand opportunities in research and development.”

Established in 2015 and headquartered in China’s Guangdong province, Homa Appliances specialises in the design, research and development, and manufacture of electrical appliances such as refrigerators and freezers.

The company’s first two manufacturing projects in Thailand, located in Chon Buri province, will eventually have a combined annual production capacity of over 1.7 million units, including smart refrigerators, high-efficiency refrigerators, and chest freezers, using more than 50-60% local content in their components.

All output from the facilities will be exported, generating expected annual trade revenue of more than 12 billion baht. Upon full operation, the two projects are anticipated to provide employment opportunities for around 3,000 engineers and workers.

“Thailand currently serves as an important production base for electrical appliances in the region. Over the years, many leading companies have established production bases in Thailand to export to markets worldwide, including Samsung, LG, Electrolux, Beko, Arçelik, Hitachi, as well as major Chinese manufacturers such as Midea, Haier and Hisense,” said Mr Narit.

“Homa is the latest global-level manufacturer and the fourth Chinese appliance company to decide to invest in Thailand, underscoring confidence in Thailand’s potential as a regional hub for smart appliance production and the country’s readiness in terms of infrastructure, supply chains, skilled personnel, and government support measures.

“The BoI will continue to work with Homa and other manufacturers to facilitate business matching, connect supply chains, promote the use of local components, and foster collaboration to develop Thai component manufacturers so they have the opportunity to become part of the global supply chain.”

Artificial intelligence (AI) creators are expected to make decisions using other AI agents, while human influencers will still survive by creatively coexisting with AI, says influencer agency Tellscore.

This might involve influencers crafting their own AI avatars to create short-form content, or harnessing AI as a powerful tool to enhance brand development, noted the agency.

According to statistics sourced from “Influencer Economy Worldwide” by Statista.com, the value of the global creator and influencer market posted an average annual growth rate of 20-30%.

In 2024, the market value reached US$24 billion, and it is projected to soar to $32.5 billion this year, reflecting a strong upward trend worldwide.

One trend this year is the rise of AI in creator-led branding, said Suvita Charanwong, chief executive and co-founder of Tellscore, at Thailand Influencer Awards 2025 held by Tellscore recently.

This approach goes beyond simple differentiation, focusing instead on “telling stories with a human connection,” according to Ms Suvita. It communicates what the brand represents, the value it delivers to consumers, and highlights the influencers and creators involved and how they engage with their communities, she noted.

She added that to strengthen branding and deepen audience engagement, it is vital to integrate online-to-offline marketing strategies through real-world initiatives such as events, workshops, and concerts.

Ms Suvita said the industry is expecting autonomous AI creators to make decisions together with other agents in the future.

For example, they could conduct live selling, take live questions from the crowd, make decisions on logistics and marketing promotion, and set adaptive pricing strategies.

The path to survival for influencers is to “coexist with AI” in creative ways. This includes influencers developing their own AI avatars to produce short-form content once or twice a week, or using AI as a tool to strengthen brand building.

She added that influencers still exist and have not been replaced by AI, but they need to embrace change.

However, this would require transparency, making it clear when content is AI-generated in order to avoid confusing consumers. This form of openness enhances the value and credibility of creators in the eyes of both brands and their audiences.

Ms Suvita noted that TikTok continues to build strong momentum, while YouTube is reshaping its strategy with long-form content and partnerships with e-commerce platforms to push further into social commerce.

Instagram remains a key space for trendsetters, particularly through its “Stories” feature, which generates a high level of engagement.

Among emerging platforms, Lemon8 is gaining popularity among Gen Z with its simple, fast content formats, while XiaoHongShu is rapidly expanding its market presence in Thailand and across Southeast Asia, creating strong opportunities for bilingual creators fluent in both English and Chinese.

She said one of the most promising opportunities lies with LGBTQ+ creators within the context of the rainbow economy, underscoring Thailand’s openness and willingness to embrace diversity as a key strength.

Brands collaborating with these creators not only gain commercial benefits but also build emotional connections and trust with Gen Z and millennial consumers, who place a premium on trust, authenticity, and inclusion.

The creator market will certainly continue to grow despite global economic volatility, but the path ahead will not be easy.

Ms Suvita said creators and brands must adapt quickly, paying close attention to global geopolitics and opportunities, particularly within the region.

They should also begin producing content in English or Chinese to tap international markets, said Ms Suvita.

Future scenarios

Ms Suvita outlined future scenarios for content creators, comprising three distinct categories: “Want to Be”, “Today”, and “Want to Avoid”.

An ideal future, labelled the “Want to Be” scenario, is characterised by unlimited creativity for global success. This path envisions Asian content creators participating in setting global standards and exporting high-quality content abroad, supported by sufficient talent, funding, and content series.

There is a self-made Thai creator economy, where the profession is officially recognised with structured professional standards, financial backing and support.

The “Today” refers to the current reality that consists of growth on an unstable path, where creators are building understanding and community, but are constantly undermined by platform misuse, referring to issues such as fraud, the exploitation of sensitive topics, fake news, and call centres.

The crisis of trust in Thailand’s content industry has arisen as Thailand continues to rely on foreign platforms, whose algorithms influence the quality of content and shape the values of people in the country.

The future described as “Want to Avoid” represents the industry’s collapse, characterised by widespread fraud, a significant decline in people’s wealth and income, and constant attacks on the industry, all of which necessitate an urgent restoration of public confidence.

An armed and violent gold shop robbery at a Big C shopping mall in Narathiwat on Sunday has shifted much-needed attention towards security and public safety issues in restive southern provinces.

The robbery at the mall in Sungai Kolok district substantiates fears that insurgent violence in the southernmost provinces might be widening to target business activities.

To meet this challenge, the government must ensure that those involved in such a brazen robbery are brought to justice, thereby restoring trust in its ability to provide security to the region’s population.

It is not the first time that gold shops and financial activities have been targeted in such a violent manner.

Over the past two decades, gold shops in the restive areas of the deep South — Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and certain districts in Songkhla — have been robbed. Commercial vans transporting cash and ATMs have also been targeted.

In the majority of cases, those behind such crimes were not apprehended. Most of these unsolved cases have been labelled as national security threats, and the robbers have been categorised as insurgents trying to instigate violence and unrest.

Indeed, in the early hours of Sept 1, several ATMs in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani were bombed, with local law enforcers yet to arrest any suspects.

The violent nature of the robbery of the gold shop on Sunday also resulted in a 27-year-old soldier who was shopping being shot and wounded by one of the 10 armed robbers.

The robbers held the gold shop staff at gunpoint before taking jewellery worth 24 million baht, and then managed to get away in two pick-up vans, which were reportedly stolen. During their escape, they scatter tyre spikes on the road to hinder any pursuers.

Yesterday, soldiers were hunting high and low to arrest the robbers, but some security personnel have said they might already have crossed the border into Malaysia.

Politically, the gold robbery is a challenge to the Anutin government, which last week approved its policies and action plans for implementation in the deep South.

Among approved plans is the appointment of Gen Somsak Roongsita, former chief of the National Security Council, to head the Thai peace talks team and resume negotiations with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).

The government also approved a new three-year master plan to develop social and economic conditions in the restive southern provinces.

However, it is needless to say that the gold shop heist in the business district will further dent investment and business sentiment.

Currently, the army is conducting an investigation into the heist and has been quick to link the suspects to the insurgency, but they should not be doing this alone.

Investigators from the Royal Thai Police should be involved and join in any efforts involving the Malaysian government to help arrest the robbers if they are within Malaysia’s borders.

For the future of the deep South, the security situation needs to be brought under control. It can no longer be a wild territory where crimes such as trafficking and money laundering are rife.

In such an atmosphere, any of the government’s policies, including those aimed at boosting local businesses, will remain just a pipe dream.

Quoc Dat Tong, Senior Financial Markets Strategist at Exness, analyses how geopolitics, policy shifts, and trade disruptions are transforming oil markets and reshaping global economic stability.

When tensions in the Middle East began to escalate earlier this year, markets braced for the familiar chain reaction: fears of disrupted supply, speculative spikes in crude prices, and renewed volatility across global assets. In oil, these shifts are amplified. A targeted attack on infrastructure, a diplomatic breakdown, or a sudden production cut by an OPEC member can trigger price movements that ripple from regional economies to the world’s largest financial centres.

Today, those ripples are colliding with other fault lines, creating one of the most complex oil market environments seen in years. Understanding this landscape means understanding not just OPEC’s influence, but the geopolitical forces shaping its every move.

When Oil Supply Meets Geopolitical Turbulence

In oil markets, a ‘shock’ is less about surprise and more about scale. It’s an event sudden enough to jolt supply, demand, or both. Wars, sanctions, unrest, and infrastructure attacks can choke supply almost overnight. On the other side of the equation, shifts in economic policy, trade restrictions, or even sudden surges in industrial activity can upend demand patterns just as quickly.

In practice, these shocks rarely happen in isolation. A supply cut triggered by conflict can also spark speculative buying, amplifying price swings. This is why understanding the source, whether it’s pipeline sabotage, a tariff dispute, or a regional conflict, is crucial for anyone trying to navigate oil’s notoriously sensitive price dynamics.

Geopolitical Shocks and Knock-on Effects

The last few years have shown just how quickly a single geopolitical event can redraw the oil map. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is a prime example. Prior to the war, the EU sourced a quarter of its crude oil and 40% of its diesel from Russia. Within months, sanctions and outright bans from the US and EU cut those flows almost entirely.

In response, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released 60 million barrels from strategic reserves to ease prices. But the real shift was structural. Gulf states increased imports of discounted Russian crude, rerouting refined products back to Europe. Prices briefly spiked above 110 USD per barrel before settling into a lower range as new trade patterns took hold.

Three years on, the EU has replaced much of its Russian fossil fuel imports with alternative suppliers and, crucially, ramped up renewable energy. Green energy’s share of EU production has more than doubled since 2021, and if that trajectory continues, it could further soften oil demand and prices in the years ahead.

Recent Events Affecting Oil Prices

When tensions flare in the Middle East, oil markets react. Prices shift on mere whispers of supply disruption, shipping routes are reassessed, and traders weigh the likelihood of escalation. In a commodity as globally integrated as oil, even localised conflict can send ripples across the globe, reshaping trade flows and market sentiment in real time.

Recent flare-ups involving Israel, Iran, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia have done just that, heightening supply fears. These developments come on top of unrest in Libya and Venezuela, both oil-producing countries, compounding uncertainty in a market already sensitive to political risk.

OPEC’s Balancing Act: Unity, Strategy, and Survival

The organisation’s ability to stabilise prices for members adhering to agreed production quotas. But compliance isn’t always guaranteed. Iraq, Kazakhstan, and Russia have all been frequent overproducers, sometimes driven by economic necessity or political pressure. Even Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s de facto leader, has exceeded agreed limits.

Managing this balance is even more complex when members are under sanctions or engaged in conflict. Russia’s current status-under heavy Western sanctions but also the world’s third-largest oil producer-complicates OPEC’s decision-making. The group must avoid alienating Western buyers while also protecting its members’ economic interests.

Adding to the challenge, major oil producers outside OPEC+, such as the US, Canada, and Brazil, collectively account for 40-50% of global production. This means OPEC’s ability to control prices is never absolute.

Oil Affects the Price of Everything

Oil’s political and economic weight comes from its role as the foundational input across industries. From transportation to manufacturing, agriculture to energy production, oil price movements ripple through nearly every supply chain. Even the process of extracting and transporting oil depends on oil itself.

Higher prices increase costs across the board, while lower prices can ease inflationary pressures. Oil price shifts also influence currency markets, particularly commodity-linked currencies like the Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, and Norwegian krone. Because oil is priced in US dollars, a stronger dollar tends to push oil prices higher for non-dollar buyers, dampening demand and consequently prices.

Trading Oil in a Fractured Geopolitical Landscape

The interplay between OPEC policy, geopolitical risk, and macroeconomic forces makes oil one of the most challenging yet potentially rewarding commodities to trade. Price movements can be swift, driven by factors far beyond supply and demand fundamentals.

For traders, sustainability and growth in this market require more than following production reports or price charts. They demand an understanding of political risk, economic policy shifts, and global trade flows. In today’s environment, where regional conflicts, sanctions, and shifting alliances are redefining supply chains, oil can be seen as a geopolitical barometer.

A 76-year-old man is believed to have shot his 66-year-old wife before killing himself at their home in Song Phi Nong district on Monday.

About 6pm, local police were alerted to gunshots at a house in Moo 4, tambon Bang Ta Then. At the scene, officers discovered Saman, 76, and his wife Samruay, 66, dead outside their home.

Saman had a gunshot wound to his right temple. A 9mm pistol with one spent cartridge lay near his left foot.

Samruay had been shot twice, in the left temple and right chest. Police recovered three 9mm shell casings and one cartridge from the scene.

Their youngest son, Somchai, 49, said both parents suffered from high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. His father had recently developed Parkinson’s disease, causing tremors and memory lapses.

“He frequently spoke of wanting to end his life rather than be a burden on his children, and worried that my mother would struggle alone after his death,” Somchai said. “He always said that even though they weren’t born together, they wanted to die on the same day. I thought it was just talk, but he actually went through with it.”

Pol Col Prinya Kaochawat, superintendent of Bang Ta Then station, confirmed neighbours reported hearing three gunshots.

“Their son had visited that afternoon. The incident occurred in the evening,” he said.

The investigation was continuing.

Thailand’s headline consumer price index fell for a sixth consecutive month in September, declining by 0.72% year-on-year, but the country has yet to encounter a recession, says the Commerce Ministry.

The index stood at 100.11 last month, compared with 100.14 in August.

The main contributing factor was the decrease in energy prices, including electricity and fuel, driven by the government’s cost of living relief measures as well as falling energy prices in the global market.

The prices of fresh food items, especially chicken eggs, fresh vegetables and fresh fruits, were still lower than those of last year. Other goods and services did not have a significant impact on the rate of inflation.

The government wants to ease the cost of living, so it has lowered the power tariff to 3.94 baht per kilowatt-hour for the September-December period, down from 3.98 baht, while farm produce prices remained cheap due to the high quantity of supplies in the market.

“Though headline inflation was in negative territory for six months, it does not signify we are entering a recession,” said Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the Commerce Ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office.

“This is because the core inflation continued to rise, supported by domestic demand as well as employment in the country which did not decrease.”

Core inflation, which does not include goods in the energy and fresh food categories, rose by 0.65% year-on-year in September.

From January to September, core inflation increased by 0.9%.

Mr Nantapong is aware GDP growth has so far been lower than projections for this year, but the economy has still managed to grow slightly.

“This is not a sign of recession. It is an economic slowdown,” he said.

However, authorities are not being complacent with regard to the current situation. They remain cautious and are closely monitoring changes in economic circumstances, he noted.

Mr Nantapong said the government’s “Khon La Khrueng Plus” co-payment scheme, scheduled to be launched by the end of October, may have a limited impact on inflation.

The scheme would only be able to help increase inflation slightly because it is a short-term measure, he said.

To increase inflation more significantly, the government should speed up budget spending in order to inject more money into the economy, Mr Nantapong.

He expects Thailand’s inflation in the final quarter of this year to get close to zero, attributed mainly to the lower Dubai crude oil reference price as Opec and its allies continue to increase oil production.

For the whole year, headline inflation should stand at 0%, down from an earlier projection of 0-1%.

The Cabinet Secretariat confirmed on Tuesday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s petition for a royal pardon did not require cabinet consideration.

Secretary-general Natjaree Anantasilp said Thaksin’s petition for clemency had been forwarded to the justice minister for his input. The application was highly confidential, she added.

‘The Justice Ministry has already provided information. This is not something that needs to be tabled before the cabinet. From now on, the process will follow proper procedure,’ Ms Natjaree told news reporters at Government House about 9.35am on Tuesday.

Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat has declined to confirm reports that the ministry rejected the appeal for a royal pardon submitted on Thaksin’s behalf. He also stressed the highly classified nature of the request.

Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said only that his opinion was in line with that of the committee chaired by the justice permanent secretary, which had already submitted its view to the Cabinet Secretariat for further consideration.

Asked whether the pardon request was prompted by legal restrictions on submitting repeated petitions, the minister declined to elaborate, citing multiple legal provisions under review.

He said his assessment was based on Section 261 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which outlines the justice minister’s role in providing opinions on royal pardon requests.

The minister also said he could not confirm whether Thaksin was still legally required to serve a one-year prison term. His written response had been submitted to the Cabinet Secretariat, he added.

On whether the cabinet would be formally informed, he said this remained a matter for the Cabinet Secretariat to decide.

Asked to clarify the term ‘royal pardon petition”, Pol Gen Rutthapon said his opinion was based on the Cabinet Secretariat’s submission.

As recently appointed justice minister, he had reviewed the case within the legal framework and concluded that Thaksin’s petition did not meet the legal criteria, citing multiple reasons. However, he declined to disclose further details.

Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon was appointed the justice minister under the Bhumjaithai Party’s quota,

On whether Thaksin could submit another petition on future auspicious occasions, Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said he was not yet aware of the details.

Earlier, there were reports that Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon reaffirmed the stance of his predecessor, Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, who supported the Department of Corrections’ recommendation to reject the royal pardon appeal submitted on behalf of Thaksin

An informed source said Thaksin will probably be required to remain in prison and serve his one-year sentence, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s final ruling.

Artist Pakawan Thongvanit, known as Atelier Pakawan, is recognised for her lovely, detailed illustrations with warm and soothing colours. Both her illustrations and ceramics are influenced by Japanese culture and art techniques because she spent four years in Seto, a city which is renowned for pottery.

Pakawan recently launched a book titled Kon Thai Kon Nan Thii Pai Rian Pan Thii Yipun (The Thai Who Went To Study Pottery In Japan) and is currently holding the exhibition ‘Clay No Tabi: A Journey Through Clay’. On display at MMAD Box by Happening on the 2nd floor of Seacon Square, the exhibition reveals content from the book and showcases sculptures and ceramic work.

‘After I returned from Japan in 2018, I tried to write this book but I felt depressed because I missed my life and friends in Japan,’ explained Pakawan.

“To avoid negative feelings, I decided to put the project on hold. Last year, Vip Buraphadeja, the editor of Happening, asked me to try and write the book again, thus, I was able to finish it. Working on the book reminded me of my classes and sculptures that I created while in Japan. Thai viewers have never seen the sculptures at this exhibition before along with other ceramics work using sometsuke, known as the blue and white technique.’

Previously, Pakawan worked as an interior designer but she was not the right fit for the job, and there was nowhere to channel her creativity. She spent her free time creating illustrations and came up with the idea to put them on ceramic tableware. She thought of purchasing tableware and discussed the idea with her father who suggested she take a ceramics course instead, so that she could create the whole piece by herself.

Pakawan enrolled in a course at Som Ceramics where she learned the whole process and realised she enjoyed working with the medium. When she was looking for further education in the UK or the US, her father told her to consider Japan since their pottery is unique.

‘At that time, I focused on studies in the UK and the US because I could not speak Japanese, but Seto has a pottery studio which accepts international students for one month. The master there could speak English. I discovered the Setomono Matsuri, one of the largest Japanese pottery and ceramics festivals, is held in September so I decided to be there then,’ she said.

After Pakawan finished her course in Seto, she aimed for a diploma in ceramics at a professional training college. This two-year course required Japanese language skills, so she learned Japanese for one year in Thailand and one year in Seto before being admitted to the college.

During the first year, students learn all techniques including rotating plates, hand shaping and casting moulds. In the second year, students become more independent and they can work on their own style. This is when Pakawan created sculptures for the first time.

‘The master asked students to think what a sculpture is. In Japan, the word sculpture can refer to any object, so I think my sculptures can be an object that I like which happens to be shape of fruits. There are many decorative techniques that can be used for ceramics such as glaze and pattern drawing. Decorative techniques require using a sharp tool to scrape into dark stoneware clay and fill with liquid white clay.’

Pakawan named the stoneware collection of her fruit sculptures Dessin, which she explained comes from the French word for drawing.

‘I kept the colours monochrome to echo the look of pencil sketches. The process of making these textures feels very much like drawing to me. The collection won the Mayor’s Prize at the 70th Seto City Art Exhibition. It was the first time I won an art award. I was impressed with my experience in Seto, which is a small town, but it really supports art.’

Since the exhibition was inspired by her book, Pakawan also created a book sculpture titled An Open Book to celebrate her first publication.

‘A book has angles and corners which are forms that I have never been good at. I prefer forms of curves and roundness. I designed bookmarks to look like stems of flowers. An Open Book has a crack which happened during firing. As a perfectionist, showing flawed work is not ideal but there was no time,’ she confessed.

As a ceramist, Pakawan also learned to move on quickly when her work does not meet expectations.

‘Making ceramics teaches us to be patient and to let things go and move on. When we open a kiln, we experience either success or disappointment, and disappointment comes often.

“Making ceramics is like science which requires experimentation. We can somewhat predict the outcome, but many times, the outcome is not as we expect. After we feel disappointment, we take a moment to grieve and then get over it.

“This taught me to not dwell on disappointment for too long. When we feel sad, we should start working on something,’ explained Pakawan.

For the exhibition, Pakawan created four new pieces inspired by the different seasons in Japan. Each piece consists of a drawing on dark clay on the left and a drawing on white clay on the right. There are the spring, autumn, rainy and winter seasons. Summer season was skipped because Pakawan does not appreciate it much.

‘The first piece, Haru, means spring in Japanese. Spring symbolises a new beginning. It is a season for a new semester in schools and when new employees start working. Though flowers bloom and the season is bright, as a person who is over anxious when things change, I had to give myself a pep talk in front of the mirror before heading out to ceramic classes,’ Pakawan explained.

‘Tsuyu represents the rainy season. The rainy season in Seto is different from Bangkok because it drizzles all day. The atmosphere is gloomy, but the good thing is that hydrangeas, one of my favourite flowers, can be found on every corner. To graduate, all students had to make a 40cm plate with a pattern. I designed a pattern inspired by hydrangeas in a minimal style, because it was difficult to replicate an exact pattern. That minimal pattern became my signature style.’

A collection of white and blue ceramic cups were also well-received by viewers. Many cups sold out on the first day of the exhibition and some have unusual handles which do not look functional.

‘The master told students that if we focus only on function, we won’t be able to come up with new designs. If we create cups that are not easy to hold, it may bring new drinking experiences. There are various ceramic cup designs in Japan. I played with shapes and handles that I had never designed before,’ Pakawan said.

‘For the exhibition, I feel I have done my best, so I don’t expect much. I will wait and see if it is the beginning of something new.’