Today we’d like to introduce you to Ploy Rujirawanichtep.
Hi Ploy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, my name is Ploy Rujirawanichtep. I am a textile artist from Thailand, specializing in embroidery art. I earned my bachelor’s degree in textile art at a university in Thailand. I am currently studying Fibers at SCAD, where I will complete my master’s degree in Spring 2022.
My embroidery journey began when I was very young. My mom showed me how to sew buttons in a flower shape. That was the first time I was mesmerized by how simple thread and needle could create art. My main inspiration for embroidery art was flowers. As part of my bachelor’s degree, I created a wearable art collection called Bliss.
The wearable art is embroidery that depicts the impression of women through different types of flowers. Embroidered flowers are positioned on the body of a woman to show off her curves and beauty. Through Bliss, I found my passion for embroidery and flowers. This is where I really began to develop my embroidery skills.
After I graduated, I decided to work as a florist for a year. It gives me a better understanding of flowers and how to use them for art. My embroidery art continues to evolve even as I work as a florist. In order for me to pursue my textile career, I made the big decision to study abroad.
Studying in America allows me to explore not only my personality but also my creativity in textile. As a Thai woman studying in the United States, I find myself naturally combining my ethnic culture with my surrounding culture. All aspects of my present life are influenced by the arts, food, music, fashion, and lifestyle of American culture and my Thai-Chinese culture.
I tend to look at the similarities between these cultures and subconsciously build my character and creativity around that. I think the term hybrid could be used in my situation.
I grew up in a Thai-Chinese family in Thailand, where I have never felt the complexity of understanding two different cultures. Ever since I came to study in the United States, I stumbled upon the feeling of not belonging and feeling like a stranger to both cultures. That feeling has only grown.
The sense of in-between created both positive and negative effects on my life. I have been wondering why I felt this way and how I can adapt to it. I decided to create embroidery art that shows the compromised way of living as a hybrid person.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
To be honest it is not easy but I also tend to look at the positive side and try to learn something about it.
Despite wanting to work with textiles, I ended up working as a florist, which confused me and left me feeling lost. It was at that time that I began to examine myself deeply and thought about who I am, what I like, and what I want to do in the future. I realized that I have such a strong passion for textiles.
So I decided to come study at SCAD. I promised myself before I came here that I would gain as much knowledge and experience as I could in order to find my true self.
During my time living in the States, I realize how different I am from others. Both in a sense of not belonging while having a feeling of being welcome was present. To prove that I belong here, I decided to work as hard as possible, being an excellent student in the class and doing my best in everything I do.
The result is priceless to me. I found myself being happy as a hybrid artist while creating embroidery art that shows my ethnic culture combined with American culture.
When I’m having trouble discovering myself, there is one thing I repeat telling myself. People bloom at different points in their lives. Some are quicker, while others are slower. However, if you have already given it your all, your efforts will not be in vain.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m specializing in using home machine embroidery. It takes a lot of time and patience for me to create my art. My hybrid identity is explored through the act of stitching, which relaxes me.
In my embroidery practice, I incorporate sewing with washable plastic (the plastic can be melted to create a sticky texture similar to glue). More than ten thousand yards of thread have been sewn over and over to create the structures of my work.
I also consider sewing as my form of drawing. This process allows drawing to transform from a flat, 2D image, to a textured multi-dimensional form, allowing me to share my multi-cultural narrative. I found the love of using thread as my main medium, and proud to say that I use an ordinary medium as a thread to create something extraordinary.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I’d like to extend an invitation to all readers to attend my exhibition. On May 28th, 2022, at Cedar House Gallery, I and other textile artists will host an exhibition of our art. This exhibition will feature not only my work but also that of other textile artists. We all use stitch to convey our own unique stories.
My work will be displayed under the “Garden of In-Between” theme. My needlework installation will tell the story of the in-between sensation of being an Asian in America. Four embroidered hanging garlands and a series of animal painting portraits make up my presentation to create a fantasy world.
My creation will also be showcased as an interactive art piece that combines Thai floral arrangements with Western floral arrangements. It’s like a frame that lets viewers stroll behind the piece, snap photos, and see civilizations in the same way I did.
The exhibition’s information can be found here. If anything changes, I’ll let you know as quickly as possible!
Show: Seeded stitches fiber collection.
Address: Cedar house gallery, 122 East 36th Street, Savannah, Georgia, 31401.
Date: May 28-29 2022 ( the opening is on 28th at 18:00-21:00).
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.ployh.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ployh.studio/
Image Credits
Karntida Thantamnu and Jeerut Ngampradit
