Full Circle — ground work, research and workshops with school students

Leaves and clay represent all matters on Earth

Birthing, Interacting, Learning, Recording

Putting effort to prolong the existence of all matters

And finally, everything single thing shall naturally return to origins

1. It all began from this place called Huey Din Dam (black clay marsh), Nong Harn, Udonthani. It was the source of high-quality clay that could directly be used for making pottery.

The fact that we have discovered such a source might probably was the reason of the existence of Baan Chiang civilisation  in the ancient time (3,600BCE to 200CE). 

However, Huey Din Dam has created a strong imprint in our heart.

2. In early July when we took the residency at Baan Womanifesto, Ban Pue, Kumphawapi, Udonthani, north eastern Thailand, we have done workshops with elementary and secondary school students. They took us through a walk exploring their village and shared with us their knowledge about the herbal and medical properties of the plants. That information was then recorded on betel nut fibre, a natural paper and tied to those plants for the passers-by to read. We tried to keep the record by pressed-drying the plants in the log book. None of any little thing was overlooked. This kind of regard toward the world was so full of beauty. It helped cleanse and nourish the weary heart of those living in chaotic world where people were almost on constant rush.

The value they have shared has handed to us through these small leaves which quickly withered with time. 

We wanted to prolong time a little bit more and tried to record those leaves, vegetables and sticks that came across our eyes.

So clay it was as a recording tool for us. Clay was a delicate and flexible material. It took the imprint, texture and motive from the leave in quite an impressive way. And leaves were press-dried in the log book with their properties jotted down awaiting the next leaf to come and the knowledge to grow…

Pressed clay of the leaf conveyed certain characteristics for us to remember that leaf.

Later, the number of leaves would be increasing through the length of exhibition co-created by the audience. We hoped that this process would give the viewers the opportunity to ponder upon the properties of the leaves shared by students in Ban Pue.

These unfired clays were returned to the origin at Huey Din Dam after the exhibition was done.

And the ritual was performed to present our deep thanks to the Earth, the Water and the Nature and to remind the audience of the messages we have conveyed.