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Buesui Arjoh

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Thannaree C.

“Sawasdee kha! My name is Buesui Arjoh and I am an Akha woman. I was born on the 8^th of January 1986 and grew up in a village on the hillsides of northern Thailand. I have five sisters. We were so poor that my four older sisters left the village early to work in other provinces in order to help support our family. They are all married. Presently only my younger sister still lives with my parents.

Buesui © Buesui Arjoh

“I helped my parents in the village when I was a child. I would go to the forest with them, gather wood and chop it up into small pieces for firewood. I would then carry it on my back, walking on uneven ground up and down the hills to the other villages, which were located kilometers away. There we would sell all of this wood. During the rainy season I would also help my mother remove the weeds from the rice field. At the time I was 7 years old and thought it was a heavy job, but we had no choice.

“My mother is a hardworking, patient and loving woman. Next to the rice field on the hillside, she planted many kinds of vegetables. In the evening, we would pick it up and carry it back to the village. Then the next morning, she would take these vegetables, and other foods my father collected from the forest, to the markets in other villages. At sunset, she would always come back home with little traditional sweets wrapped in banana leaves. These treats always kept us looking forward to seeing her quickly return home.

“One day, as my mother was pregnant with one of my sisters, she and my father went out to collect foods and wood. That day they walked deep into the forest. At dusk, while they were trying and find their way out, my mother got lost. In the darkness, she tripped over something and fell flat on a sharp wooden branch. It went right through her stomach. My father finally found her and helped her back home. We did not have enough money to call on the doctor, so my father used herbal medicine to heal her. My sister was born not long after, luckily with no after-effect from this accident, and my mother still has a big scar to remind her of this unfortunate day.

Acrylic on canvas, 'Confused Heart' © Buesui Arjoh

“An important event occurred during my childhood. I am not clearly sure whether it was a dream or not, but I vividly remember lying down under the banana trees near the rice fields in the daytime. Suddenly I saw a bright yellow light in the sky. I found myself dressed as a thief with black clothing, with a handkerchief covering my face. I was fully armed. Strange and unknown king and princess approached. I attacked them and took away all of their belongings.

“Shortly after that, my ancestors’ spirits visited me. They asked if they could stay with me but I refused and scared them off. Later on I learned that my grandparents used to be shamans. They had the ability to contact all kinds of spirits. They also lead all ceremonies and rituals in the village, including the ritual that consists in sending the spirits of dead people to where they belong. It appears that I have special abilities and that my ancestors wanted me to be a shaman, but I always refused.

Buesui at home © Buesui Arjoh

“Thinking about life in the village, about the hard work we have done and all the stories we have in our family makes me feel happy and proud. In the old days we always worked and ate together, sharing our stories, having a good time. We still do this whenever we have the chance to go back home and be again all together. We still are a very warm family.

“It was my father who introduced me to art and creativity. He showed me how to transform a simple piece of shapeless wood into something beautiful using only his carving skills. He would carve tigers, crocodiles, rats, turtles, birds or Devas (angels). It always amazed me how he could create all of these gorgeous figurines with his hands. This awe made me want to follow in his footsteps. So I also began creating with my hands.

Acrylic on canvas, 'Falling in Love with Someone' © Buesui Arjoh

“I was around 7 years old when I started drawing. I have been passionate about it ever since. I love drawing so much because it helps me present what is in my mind. I am not too good with words. I could only study in the primary level because my parents could not afford more than that. Even during that time, because of the financial difficulties, I did not have much time to attend the school. My friends would then teach me what they had learned at school. But I did not like to study much anyway. Today I have just enough knowledge to read and write. So, being able to express what I mean by drawing is such a great skill to me.

“As I grew up I worked in restaurants, cleaning dishes mostly. I earned some money for myself and was able to send some back home to help support my parents as well. They were getting old and could not do much work at that time. My father still carved though. I would try and sell his wooden figurines for him as well.

“When I was in my twenties, I had the chance to study art and colors with teacher Sayarm Puengudom. I never studied colors or painting before. When I drew, I just used whatever material I found: clay, wood ash, charcoal etc. So I learned a bit more about colors and paints, and realized that I had certain ability with it, which made me focus more on painting.

Acrylic on canvas, 'Guardian Angel' © Buesui Arjoh

“As an Akha woman from Thailand, I have my ethnic beliefs and traditional ways of life. But I also have my Thai culture and have also been influenced by the modern world. I want to paint what I am, what I feel and what I have witnessed in life. In many instances, what I paint is a very good reflection of who I am. I paint good things but also things that sometimes depress me.

“I have seen many good people struggling so hard for their rights, struggling to earn a living and even just to survive. So many times they struggled for nothing. I have seen big people being so selfish, taking advantage of the little people. I have seen many people and things that are not what they appear to be. I have seen too many things in life that should not have happened but did happen anyway, whether right or wrong. I have seen so much injustice. These are things that depress me.

Acrylic on canvas, 'Admiration and Sacrifice' © Buesui Arjoh

“So my painting mainly focuses on these 2 elements. The first element relates to my Akha ethnic background, which involves our traditional way of life, our culture and beliefs. The second element relates to human’s desires and to the life I have witnessed.

“When I paint I need my own space. I need to be alone, quiet and concentrated on what I want to paint. Whenever I paint, it is like I hear someone whispering to me. I hear these voices I do not really know, but they lead and inspire me to paint what I paint. It seems to me that the beings I paint are standing in front of me. It seems that the stories I want to tell are taking place so clearly right in front of me.

Buesui at work © Buesui Arjoh

“I usually do not draw prior painting and just use the colors directly. Some of my paintings might be difficult to understand or even to explain, because I just paint by imagination, by spiritual suggestion and by feelings. Sometimes, however difficult it could be to represent what is on my mind, I paint it anyway. The colors I like to use are strong and with different contrasts. Sometimes I draw before or after painting. When I draw before I do not cover the drawing strokes, as they are part of what I feel. They combine with the colors.

“I have been having this little dream that one day I will do my own exhibition somewhere, and that I will have a place in my village to display my work. So I appreciate being able to display my paintings in the internet gallery, although it is something I have never thought about. I want to thank everyone for taking the time to take a look at my works. Whenever you have chance to visit Thailand, please feel free to visit me at my Akha village. I will be grateful if you stop by.”

Browse Buesui’s paintings online at Ezistock.

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Text by Thannaree C. © Ezistock Co., Ltd., 2012 – All Rights Reserved.
Images by Buesui Arjoh © Buesui Arjoh – All Rights Reserved.
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Songkran – Thai New Year

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Thannaree C.

According to Wit Thienburanathum’s Thai-English Dictionary, Songkran refers to the date of the sun passing into the zodiacal sign of Aries. Though this may happen in the heavens anytime around April 12or 13, the Thais have long assigned Songkran Day to the thirteenth.

That this moment in the astronomical cycle should be chosen as the Thai New Year probably has as much to with heralding the rains before the new rice-planting season as the shifting of heavenly bodies.

Though Thais appear to be Buddhist, especially during Songkran when the temples become the focus of ritual activity, many Thais also follow practices that accord with spirit worship.

Simple celebrations at Wat Phan Waen in Chiang Mai’s old city © Frank Douglas

On one website high on Google’s search results for ‘Songkran’ in recent years was the suggestion that when Songkran Day falls on a Monday, “senior government officers and their ladies shall have great power.”

This year the same link (www.songkran.net) takes you to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Songkran presentation. Unsurprisingly, there is no mention of what this year’s Friday 13^th may portend.

Whether this Western superstition has any relevance in Thailand or not, in a Buddhist country steeped in spiritualism, many Thais will offer propitiations wherever they feel spirits are likely to dwell.

What, then, should be made of one of the most charming traditions of Songkran, which is the bathing rite of Buddha images?

In this rite, Thai women in traditional Pha Sin (tube skirt) and men in suitably smart attire go to their local temple to bathe Buddha images with lustral water (water scented with sweet smelling herbs), gently pouring water over the head and shoulders of the image without touching the image itself.

Bathing of Buddha images © Tourism Authority of Thailand

One of the most prominent of Buddha images in Chiang Mai, the city pre-eminent in Thailand for its celebration of Songkran, is the Phra Sihing image. This image is brought outside and placed in front of the main vihara of Wat Phra Singh for the duration of the festival and many of the city’s residents will go there to bathe it.

Other temples in the city such as Wat Chet Lin (on Propaklao Road south of Wat Chedi Luang) may go to elaborate lengths using specially constructed wooden channels to engineer the placing of water on Buddha images taller than people.

Thais pour lustral water gently and slowly as a blessing and sign of respect. This is how Thais will pour water over the hands and shoulders of those for whom they wish to honor in Dam Hua ceremonies, when, as may be expected in a hierarchical society, juniors pay respect to seniors.

Dam Hua, Monks © Tourism Authority of Thailand

The dam hua ceremony can be informal, as between an extended family and their grandparents, or formal, such as when government officials in Chiang Mai lead a parade to anoint the provincial governor with lustral water on the afternoon of the third day (15^th) of Songkran.

Dam Hua, Elders © Tourism Authority of Thailand

The gentle bathing of images using lustral water is of necessity not quite the same during the parade of Buddha images on the afternoon of Songkran Day (13^th). If there is one thing not to miss during Songkran in Chiang Mai, it is this parade.

Parade Girls © Frank Douglas

Throughout the afternoon, floats carrying Buddha Images from different temples in Chiang Mai move in procession east to west through to Wat Phra Singh, which is in the old city delineated by the city’s square-shaped moats.

Procession © Tourism Authority of Thailand

Whilst elsewhere on the city streets the bedlam of water-throwing is intense, residents of Chiang Mai will take time off sluicing each other and attempt to anoint the passing images with lustral water in a polite a fashion as crowds along the route permit.

Another good thing to see is merit making early in the morning on the third day (15^th) of Songkran, when people bring food offerings to monks in the temples. Folks may also take this opportunity to place flags in temporary stupas of sand built in temple compounds.

Very large sand stupa at Wat Chet Lin, Chiang Mai © Frank Douglas

Though offering food to monks may not be hard to comprehend, the placing of flags in sand stupas and the bringing of long branches of wood stripped of bark to place against Bodhi trees (ficus religiosa) in temple grounds are harder to figure.

There is the theory that the sand represents material things that people have unwittingly taken away from the temple, and that placing paper flags in the sand stupas somehow compensates for the misdemeanor of taking that which is not offered.

Small sand stupa, Wat Phan Waen © Frank Douglas

The wooden sticks and stripped boughs placed against tree trunks represent support for the dharma, the Buddhist teaching.

Such explanations may please rational minds but in a land steeped in spirit worship, superstition and Buddhism, it may be better to just note that this is what Thai folks may do to mark their new year.

People certainly do not throw lustral water over each other on the city streets, particularly the crowds who get their water from Chiang Mai’s murky moats. At this time in that place it is best to go out in a T-shirt and shorts and be ready to make wet.

Water Throwing © Frank Douglas

Going out onto the streets during Songkran is great fun. Even if not so clean icy water sluicing down the body can seem more like momentary torture than relief from stifling heat, laughter will be infectious and spirits will uplift in this ultimate of wet T-shirt parades.

Water Throwing © Tourism Authority of Thailand

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Text by Frank Douglas © Frank Douglas – All Rights Reserved.

All other photos by Frank Douglas © Frank Douglas – All Rights Reserved.
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Global Compact – Principle Ten

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Thannaree C.

“Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.”

Origin of the 10^th principle

On 24 June 2004, during the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit it was announced that the UN Global Compact henceforth includes a tenth principle against corruption. This was adopted after extensive consultations and all participants yielded overwhelming expressions of support, sending a strong worldwide signal that the private sector shares responsibility for the challenges of eliminating corruption. It also demonstrated a new willingness in the business community to play its part in the fight against corruption.

Underlying legal instrument

With the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in Merida, Mexico in December 2003, an important global tool to fight corruption was introduced. The Convention is the underlying legal instrument for the 10th principle against corruption and entered into force on 14 December 2005.

Objectives of the 10^th principle

The adoption of the tenth principle commits UN Global Compact participants not only to avoid bribery, extortion and other forms of corruption, but also to develop policies and concrete programs to address corruption. Companies are challenged to join governments, UN agencies and civil society to realize a more transparent global economy.

How to define corruption?

Corruption can take many forms that vary in degree from the minor use of influence to institutionalized bribery. Transparency International’s definition of corruption is “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain”. This can mean not only financial gain but also non-financial advantages.

What is meant by extortion?

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises define extortion in the following way: “The solicitation of bribes is the act of asking or enticing another to commit bribery. It becomes extortion when this demand is accompanied by threats that endanger the personal integrity or the life of the private actors involved.”

… and what about bribery?

Transparency International’s Business Principles for Countering Bribery define “bribery” in the following way: “Bribery: An offer or receipt of any gift, loan, fee, reward or other advantage to or from any person as an inducement to do something which is dishonest, illegal or a breach of trust, in the conduct of the enterprise’s business.”

Practical steps to fight corruption

The UN Global Compact suggests to participants to consider the following three elements when fighting corruption and implementing the 10^th principle.

Internal: As a first and basic step, introduce anti-corruption policies and programs within their organizations and their business operations;
External: Report on the work against corruption in the annual Communication on Progress; and share experiences and best practices through the submission of examples and case stories;
Collective: Join forces with industry peers and with other stakeholders

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Text by Global Compact. © UN Global Compact 2011 – All Rights Reserved.

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Global Compact – Principle Nine

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Thannaree C.

“Businesses should encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.”

What is an environmentally friendly technology?

Environmentally sound technologies, as defined in Agenda 21, should protect the environment, are less polluting, use all resources in a more sustainable manner, recycle more of their wastes and products and handle residual wastes in a more acceptable manner than the technologies for which they were substitutes. They include a variety of cleaner production process and pollution prevention technologies as well as end-of-pipe and monitoring technologies. Moreover, they can be considered total systems including know-how, procedures, goods and services and equipment as well as organizational and managerial procedures. Where production processes that do not use resources efficiently generate residues and discharge wastes, environmentally sound technologies can be applied to reduce day-to-day operating inefficiencies, emissions of environmental contaminants, worker exposure to hazardous materials and risks of technological disasters.

What are the key benefits of developing and diffusing environmentally friendly technologies?

The key benefits of environmentally friendly technologies are the following:

Implementing environmentally friendly technologies helps a company reduce the use of raw materials leading to increased efficiency.
Technology innovation creates new business opportunities and helps increase the overall competitiveness of the company.
Technologies that use materials more efficiently and cleanly can be applied to most companies with long-term economic and environmental benefits.

How can business promote the use and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies?

At the basic factory site or unit level, improving technology may be achieved by (i) changing the process or manufacturing technique, (ii) changing input materials, (iii) changes to the product and (iv) reusing materials on site.

Strategic level approaches to improving technology include the following:

Establishing a corporate or individual company policy on the use of environmentally sound technologies.
Making information available to stakeholders that illustrates the environmental performance and benefits of using such technologies.
Refocusing research and development towards ‘design for sustainability’.
Use of life cycle assessment (LCA) in the development of new technologies and products.
Employing Environmental Technology Assessments (EnTA).
Examining investment criteria and the sourcing policy for suppliers and contractors to ensure that tenders stipulate minimum environmental criteria.
Co-operating with industry partners to ensure that ‘best available technology’ is available to other organizations.

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Text by Global Compact. © UN Global Compact 2011 – All Rights Reserved.

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Global Compact – Principle Eight

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Thannaree C.

“Businesses should undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility.”

What is environmental responsibility?

In Chapter 30 of Agenda 21, the 1992 Rio Earth Summit spelled out the role of business and industry in the sustainable development agenda as: “Business and industry should increase self regulation, guided by appropriate codes, charters and initiatives integrated into all elements of business planning and decision-making, and fostering openness and dialogue with employees and the public.”

The relevant principle in the Rio Declaration says we have the responsibility to ensure that activities on our own yard should not cause harm to the environment of our neighbours. Society also expects business to be good neighbours. Business gains its legitimacy through meeting the needs of society, and increasingly society is expressing a clear need for more environmentally sustainable practices.

What steps could companies take to promote environmental responsibility?

Steps that the company could take to promote environmental responsibility would be the following:

Re-define company vision, policies and strategies to include the ‘triple bottom line’ of sustainable development — economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity.
Develop sustainability targets and indicators (economic, environmental, social).
Establish a sustainable production and consumption programme with clear performance objectives to take the organisation beyond compliance in the long-term.
Work with suppliers to improve environmental performance, extending responsibility up the product chain and down the supply chain.
Adopt voluntary charters, codes of conduct or practice internally as well as through sectoral and international initiatives to confirm acceptable behaviour and performance.
Measure, track and communicate progress in incorporating sustainability principles into business practices, including reporting against global operating standards.
Ensure transparency and unbiased dialogue with stakeholders.

In doing the above, the existence of appropriate management systems is crucial in helping the company to meet the organizational challenge. Key mechanisms or tools for the company to use would be (a) assessment or audit tools (such as environmental impact assessment, environmental risk assessment, technology assessment, life cycle assessment); (b) management tools (such as environmental management systems and ecodesign) and (c) communication and reporting tools (such as corporate environmental reporting and sustainability reporting).

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Northern Thai Ceramics – Nan – Shaw Collection

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Thannaree C.

Nan - Fragments of Jar and Decorated Piece Bor Suak Kiln Site © John Shaw

Kilns near Nan were first reported in 1982. Bor Suak, judging by the number of wasters, must have been a major production site. Historically and stylistically the wares appear to be related to those of Phayao. No pieces are reported to have been found except in the immediate vicinity of Nan. This is the only kiln site in Thailand where saggars were used in large quantities.

Nan - Underglaze Black Decorated Bowl © John Shaw

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Text and photos by John Shaw © John Shaw – All Rights Reserved.
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Northern Thai Ceramics – Phan – Shaw Collection

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Thannaree C.

Phan - Kendi in the form of a Hamsa or Hong © John Shaw

The kilns of Phan are situated in two groups, they are well constructed from bricks some six meters long. Only celadon wares were made and production may have been around the year 1500 and relatively short lived.

Phan- Excavation of the Phan - Pong Daeng kilns by the Fine Arts Department in 1973

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Northern Thai Ceramics – Lampang – Shaw Collection

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Thannaree C.

Three kiln sites have been reported around Lampang making coarse brown/black glazed stoneware and also, at one of the sites, celadon wares not unlike those produced at Phayao. Near Wat Chedi Sow some 20 brick-built kilns were found in 1960 during work on a new irrigation canal.

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Global Compact – Principle Seven

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Thannaree C.

“Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges.”

What is the precautionary approach?

Introducing the precautionary approach, Principle 15 of the 1992 Rio Declaration states that “where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation”.

Precaution involves the systematic application of risk assessment (hazard identification, hazard characterization, appraisal of exposure and risk characterization), risk management and risk communication. When there is reasonable suspicion of harm and decision-makers need to apply precaution, they have to consider the degree of uncertainty that appears from scientific evaluation. Deciding on the “acceptable” level of risk involves not only scientific-technological evaluation and economic cost-benefit analysis, but also political considerations such as acceptability to the public. From a public policy view, precaution is applied as long as scientific information is incomplete or inconclusive and the associated risk is still considered too high to be imposed on society. The level of risk considered typically relates to standards of environment, health and safety.

Why is the precautionary approach important for business?

The key element of a precautionary approach, from a business perspective, is the idea of prevention rather than cure. In other words, it is more cost-effective to take early action to ensure that irreversible environmental damage does not occur. Companies should consider the following:

While it is true that preventing environmental damage entails both opportunity — and implementation — costs, remediation environmental harm after it has occurred can cost much more, e.g. for treatment costs, or in terms of company image.
Investing in production methods that are not sustainable (i.e. that deplete resources and degrade the environment) has a lower, long-term return than investing in sustainable operations. In turn, improving environmental performance means less financial risk, an important consideration for insurers.
Research and development related to more environmentally friendly products can have significant long-term benefits

What steps could companies take in the application of the precautionary approach?

Issues for the company to deal with under this approach include providing better information to the consumer, communicating potential risk for the consumer, the public or the environment. It also includes obtaining prior approval before certain products, deemed to be potentially hazardous, may be placed on the market.

Steps that the company could take in the application of this approach include the following:

Develop a code of conduct or practice for its operations and products that confirms commitment to care for health and the environment.
Develop a company guideline on the consistent application of the approach throughout the company.
Create a managerial committee or steering group that oversees the company application of precaution, in particular risk management in sensitive issue areas.
Establish two-way communication with stakeholders, in a pro-active, early stage and transparent manner, to ensure effective communication of information about uncertainties and potential risks and to deal with related enquiries and complaints. Use mechanisms such as multi-stakeholder meetings, workshop discussions, focus groups, public polls combined with use of website and printed media.
Support scientific research, including independent and public research, on the issue involved, working with national and international institutions concerned.
Join industry-wide collaborative efforts to share knowledge and deal with issues, in particular production processes and products around which high level of uncertainty, potential harm and sensitivity exist.

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Sakda Phetdarakul

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Thannaree C.

My name is Sakda Phetdarakul. I was born on 27 November 1975 and I have three brothers. My parents are farmers. They grew palm trees and sold the fruits to the palm sugar industry. Unfortunately, my parents could not afford us to pursue studies after primary school. So my brothers and I dropped out right after primary school and we helped them with the plantation, collecting the palm fruits etc. It is a very hard and risky job. We often heard about people who fell off the trees while collecting the fruits. Some of them became disabled, some even died.

Had we owned land, my parents would not have had to run this plantation. But they had to rent it from people who had plenty of land. So, after harvest time, the family hardly earned anything. When we thought about it, this job had no prospects for us. So after helping my parents for some time, my brothers and I looked for some other job.

Benjarong porcelain jar, 'Flower Festival'

Initially I worked as a cheap labor in the construction business for a few years. I then landed a job in a Benjarong factory. At first, I was given simple tasks a 15 years old boy like me could do. After a while, I was taught to paint on the porcelain wares. After almost two years of intense training I was able to paint all kind of motifs. I kept working as a Benjarong painter in that factory for 10 years.

One day the factory got a huge order. The painters had to work very hard day and night to complete the order in time. After a successful delivery, the factory owner arrived at the factory with a brand new, and very expensive, car. It made me realize that no matter how hard and dedicated work you do for other people, your compensation will never be adequate to the work you put into it. You will just earn … something.

However, working 10 years as a painter in that factory gained me lots of experience. It gave me artistic talents, it brought me lots of good things and I am very grateful. The day I resigned I told the owner that I planned to run my own Benjarong workshop. He wished me well.

I was 25 years old and started anew. The only possession I had was a moped. I took it to a finance shop and got 6,000 Thai Baht (about US$200), which was enough cash to start running my small workshop. I remember the first time I bought large boxes filled with porcelain wares from a factory and transported them on my moped.

Benjarong porcelain jar, 'Floral Firework'

I was so happy to run my own small workshop. But soon the hard reality was that it was so difficult to find buyers. I was just a 25 years old man starting to run my own business with little money. The big factory had been in business for decades and got so many customers already. What could I do to get customers? I realized that I could not compete with them by painting the same patterns. So I started to design new motifs and to create my own style. The motifs I developed are quite nice and actually a bit easier to draw for me. So in the end, I could sell these unique and quality Benjarong wares for a much lower price.

Benjarong porcelain tray, 'River Offering'

Many people want to own Benjarong porcelain wares but they cannot buy any because prices are usually so expensive. With my new floral designs and lower price, many people now can own Benjarong. Customers now come to shop at my workshop for these reasons. But also because I am always honest with them as regards to quality and prices. I aim to create the best quality products with affordable prices. But if the motifs are not too elaborate, or if quality is not the utmost best, I tell the customers and show them why it is not the very best quality.

I married in 2010 and my wife is working with me. We do not have any children yet. The day we have children, I would like to teach them the skills and traditional techniques that were passed down to me from generation to generation. I hope that my children will love it. If not, of course we will not force them to learn. They will do whatever they love to do with their life.

Looking back at my life so far, I am very happy to be able to do what I am doing now. I have my skills, my art and I have my own workshop. I can also support my parents and my brothers. I have trained more than 50 people in the past 12 years. I have presently around 15 people working with me. The working atmosphere is friendly, relaxed and easy going. I have also opened my home to be a training place for anyone in the community who is interested in learning the art of Benjarong painting. I like it and hope it will help prevent that ancient art from dying out.