Surreal Ceramics
2ND GENERATION CERAMICS
They have some of our favourite bowls and hand painted ceramic sinks (or washbasins). Formerly a family business, it’s been passed down to the second generation and Ekaraj runs it alone in the Chatuchak Weekend Market.
He learned a lot of the techniques he uses today from his family. But he has also graduated in Materials Science and is continuing to study further. Watching these products be created from scratch for most of his life, we were curious to see where he found inspiration. Is it that same thing that inspired the rest of his family? Or is it something else entirely? Yes and no.
“The inspiration for designing a piece is often derived from imitation of nature. Things around in nature. Symbols representing Thai culture, but there are some that are designed according to the needs of customers as well.”
When it comes to manufacturing the products, a lot of the materials are sourced locally. “Most materials both soil and mineral will come mainly from Thailand and then used to produce, form, and coat them all by themselves.” While looking through his most recent pieces, there were more than a few that caught our eye.
“Recently, I especially like the piece of work that is a washbasin. It has added more special about the design of patterns that have been made by hand”
We asked if there was one specific product that’s his favourite . If you’re planning a bathroom reno any time soon (or just want something other than a plain white porcelain sink) we highly recommend checking out Ekaraj’s washbasins at the bazaar! They’re full of colour and detail that will bring any space to life. We asked if there was anything he’d like to share with the customers he doesn’t get a chance to meet in person.
He said that he wants people to know that,
“the pieces that are produced are both handicrafts and a work that arises from the scientific knowledge of composite materials. It is therefore a valuable work in both ways”.
When you buy a piece from Ekaraj, you know that a lot of time and effort has gone into making it both beautiful and practical.
They’re functional works of art. It might be hard to pick only a few pieces to be a part of your ‘good’ dishes set. But you could always stock up on a few different colour schemes for seasonal changes, that way you’re always able to use them regularly (one can dream, right?!).
