2019

TECHNIQUE Handmade pleating and knitting

Wat Pho is one of Bangkok’s oldest temples. It existed before Bangkok was established as the capital by King Rama I, the first King of Chakri dynasty. At the beginning of his reign, King Rama I built the Grand Palace adjacent to Wat Pho. Subsequently, it became the main temple for him.

Wat Pho is also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and is remarkable for the enamelled tiles decoration. There is a group of four large stupas, known as Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn. These four Chedis are dedicated to the first four Chakri kings.

The first, in green mosaic tiles, was constructed by King Rama I. Two more were built by King Rama III, one in white tiles to hold the ashes of his father King Rama II, another in yellow for himself.

These three Chedis have similar construction and decoration while the fourth blue one was styled differently. It was built by King Rama IV who then enclosed the four chedis leaving no space for more to be built.

This series of handbags has duplicated the Thai architecture from Wat Pho, with its rich religious culture and the colourful enamelled tiles decoration. They represent the soul of Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, to transmit the pride of being Thai to everywhere it was carried to.