Scottish and Thai designer-makers exhibit at Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a leading international research organisation delivering knowledge, education and plant conservation action around the world and this May it will play host to New for Old, an exhibition showcasing the exchange and collaboration in craft and design between Scottish and Thai makers and designers

Presented by the British Council and Support Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand (SACICT, the interactive exhibition, designed by London-based designers Studio Hato, will present the processes and journey of a collaborative exchange that happened in January 2016 at Kaewanna Natural Indigo Dyeing Studio in Phrae, Thailand. Blending traditional making techniques with contemporary influences, this diverse group of makers explore ideas of environment, sustainability and community within their work. The designer-makers span different practices, including woodworking, basketry, indigo-dyeing and weaving, and so represent a wide spectrum of hand-making techniques and traditions from countries which have craft making at their heart.

This exhibition forms part of the British Council’s New for Old programme, which aims to promote, support and develop the craft and design sector, helping to make it more sustainable and viable for designers, entrepreneurs and their communities. All of the designer-makers featured have undergone training, collaborations or exchanges with UK practitioners as part of this programme with the ambition to build long-term links between the UK and Thai design and craft industries.

The Scotland-based designer-makers include Lorna Fraser, Sam Goates, Anna S. King and Naomi McIntosh and the Thailand-based designer-makers include Flow Jewellery, Homlom Studio, Jetsada Studio, PATAPiAN, Pin Metal Life, Plural Designs, Thaniya and Vassana.
On the 14 – 15 and 21 – 22 May, the exhibition will be brought to life through a weekend events programme curated by Scottish ceramicist Carol Sinclair when visitors will be given the chance to experiment with different forms of making and learn techniques first-hand from both the Scottish and Thai makers.

In addition to the exhibition, the designer-makers will continue their exchange through a study tour hosted by Carol Sinclair and a selection of Thai designers will also present their work in an exhibition at Clerkenwell Design Week in London 24 – 26 May.

9 - 22 May 2016 at John Hope Gateway when all events will be free and open to the public