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Nawa

"My name is Nawapoomin Chaichompoo, and I regularly go by 'Nawa.' You may be interested to know that I am a dentist by profession, a dentist who adores craft and design, discovering the things that I truly wish to do. I was born on May 12, 1976. In my tranquil village I lived amid the warmth of my family, along with my parents and my elder brother. When I was young I remember that I was always sewing things for my parents' customers and learning from my mother's assistant. I liked drawing as well. When I was only two or three years old I already knew how to draw and always did it when I was feeling bad. Fortunately I learned it very well. In high school, my mother told me I should decide my future to choose the best career for earning both honor and income, because our country doesn't have a good economic status. I decided to study dentistry.

"At the university I was always helping drama groups decorate and design stage sets and costumes. I learned there that I was in love with the arts. Art is life and I have tried to learn more about it. When I graduated I worked at a hospital, then came home and set up my own clinic. The atmosphere is full of artistic feeling, good weather, kindly people, and natural scenery. I was glad to be working in my homeland again and found some leisure time to create art.

"What really made me become fascinated by the arts is when I met the artist Ajarn Dhepsiri Sooksopha (Ajarn means teacher). He taught me about how to paint and what painting truly is. I learned by drawing and having him criticize the work, then repainting it again. At that point I realized I preferred being an artist to working as a dentist.

"Later I met Khun Tuey, the owner of a silver shop. He invited me to the opening of his new shop. This was the turning point in my life. I looked at the silver and realized I wanted to do this craft. I wanted to design by myself and started to wonder why I didn't just go ahead and do it. I learned about shape, design, material, and techniques, adapting them to my own ideas. I used artistic ideas that existed around me to create the designs. The silver in here was rather conservative in its design; the patterns hadn't changed in over a hundred years. I have tried to transform the design while conserving certain characteristics of northern style. I want to add life to the pieces.

"My works were already recognized when I held the inauguration of my shop. Presently, I am happy making artistic works. When I have free time from the clinic (I work there from 9 am until 7:30 pm) I always go home and sketch. I am also doing other things I like, such as the article I am writing for a Thai magazine. I am painting scenery and portraits I've come across in my travels. I built my home by myself based on designs from the past. I am always involved with the theater, helping to decorate sets, and I am always learning about silver."