The Connection and Extended Development in Making for Khmer Ceramics Culture: A Case Study of Thailand and the Kingdom of Cambodia

Abstract

The objectives of this research are to study the current status of the earthenware production profession, develop and disseminate knowledge gained from research about the cultural landscape network of Khmer-culture ceramics, and promote the exchange of knowledge in Khmer-culture ceramic production between Thailand and the Kingdom of Cambodia. The ultimate goal is to transfer the research findings into practical applications for both commercial and public benefits. The results of the research study have provided insights into the characteristics, patterns, and motifs of Khmer-inspired glazed ceramics in Thailand. Through the collection and study of various relevant data related to Khmer-inspired glazed ceramics, the wares used in Khmer-style glazed ceramics can be broadly categorized into two main groups based on their usage. The first group includes wares used in daily life, such as earthen jars, pots, cassettes, bottles, bowls, water pots with spouts, animal sculptures, and jewelry. The second group consists of wares used on special occasions or in religious ceremonies, such as fish and conch objects. Both groups of glazed ceramics are classified as stoneware fired at high temperatures. The cultural landscape network of Khmer-culture ceramics has identified three groups of pottery producers in present-day Cambodia. These groups are 1) the National Center for Khmer Ceramics Revival (NCKCR), 2) the Kampong Chhnang Ceramic Artisans Group, and 3) the Siem Reap Mordock Ceramics Group. To facilitate the transfer of professional skills in Khmer ceramics, training and skill-sharing programs have been established in designated locations in Thailand, specifically at the Department of Ceramics Technology, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Buriram Rajabhat University, and in Cambodia at the Siem Reap Mordock Ceramics Group. These practical training programs cover the entire process of Khmer-style glazed ceramic production, including soil preparation, shaping, decorative techniques, glazing, and firing. A collaborative work evaluation and a summary of the training results are conducted together. After conducting training workshops to transfer knowledge and skills in the pottery profession, the research team presented the outcomes of the training in three locations in Thailand, namely, the exhibition "Millennium Porcelain Fair, Ban Kruat Tradition" in Ban Kruat District, Buriram Province, "Bond Klay Keramic: International Ceramic Art Workshop & Conference 2017" at Ruen Thai, Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University under the Royal Patronage, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani Province, and "Exhibition at RMA Gallery Sukhumvit Soi 22, Bangkok." In Cambodia, the works were showcased at the Angkor Handicraft Association (AHA) in Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia. Both exhibitions received significant interest from the visitors, contributing to the international recognition and dissemination of the creative ceramic works resulting from the cultural landscape network of Khmer-culture ceramics.