Art attack: Tentacles founder Henry Tan, cafe manager Non and co-owner Kedo in the art space in Narathiwat Soi 22.
Tentacles N22 looks like any other cafe from the outside, but it’s really a way to extend a helping hand to young and emerging artists. Beyond the espresso machines and mugs is a space devoted to art, where the experienced pass on their knowledge and those who might not otherwise have the chance can show off their skills.
“People tend to come in more because of the coffee shop. Then they can see the artwork we display in our gallery,” said Tentacles co-owner Henry Tan, 29. “It makes people less scared of being in an arty space. Most of the people who come in are office workers and people who live in the area.”
Tentacles, a warehouse that has become an art space in Soi Narathiwat 22, was established late last year by eight twentysomethings with a passion for the arts — everything from painting to handbag design to dismantling computer keyboards. They offer training and workshops, and will provide a space for emerging artists to display their work, no matter what it is. Henry said the idea was for the space to be both a playground for artists to experiment, and a place where they could build connections and establish reputations within the art world.
Henry is a part-time performance artist in a similar vein as Marina Abramovic, but graduated from Chulalongkorn University, where he now teaches, with a degree in economics. He now brings his business acumen to his love for the arts.
NO PLEASURE DOING BUSINESS
After graduating, Henry missed out working in high finance but instead landed a job as an event organiser. It was in that role he was exposed to the arts, and soon developed a keen interest. Being an event organiser was something of a dream job, but his passion for the arts began to take over, saying it “filled in that missing piece” in his heart.
Henry turned his back on the corporate world as he gave his full focus to the arts. He met a lot of artists and built a network of connections, to the point that in mid-2014 an art school owner gave him a space in a Thong Lor building to do whatever he liked.
He took training courses for aspiring artists, and it was during one of these he met Kedo, 26, who has since become Tentacles’ co-owner and the chief workshop coordinator. She encouraged him to use the Thong Lor space for something useful for the artistic community, and they invited young artists to display their work. Later, Henry led a project called Autopilot which was supported by the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre’s Young Artist Network.
After Autopilot, Henry’s next idea was to invite artists to join a three-month residency programme at the art school. By then relocated to Phrom Phong, his first set of artists were Japanese, Singaporean and Thai. This continued successfully for a year and he became well known among young international artists. But Henry had bigger ambitions.
WAREHOUSE TO ART SPACE
Henry established a company called Henry and Partners to handle the business side of the project, but it wasn’t until he spied an old warehouse in Soi Narathiwat 22 that he found what he was looking for. The owner of Gallery VER, which targets experienced artists, invited Henry to share the space. Since Tentacles was aiming for young and emerging artists, they would not be in competition. In the middle of last year, Henry and the team began converting the warehouse into a hip artwork space. The front half of the ground floor was set aside for a cosy coffee shop, with the rest devoted to the workshop area. Upstairs is a gallery.
Tentacles got off to a curious start. For a workshop in the first week, Kedo invited a Japanese artist who is an expert computer programmer. The workshop was called Hacking Keyboard, and hack was taken literally as the trainer had the participants ripping the keys off and installing new buttons in their place. The hacked keyboards would then be used in simulation programs. There were only two participants at the first workshop, and it proved quite confusing for them.
After that, Kedo brought in more mainstream artists, with workshops tackling such subjects as embroidery, flower art, painting or string art. This proved much more popular; Tentacles can host up to 10 participants at a time, and several were sold out.
GIVE ME YOUR LEATHER
One of the most successful trainers is artisan Nan Suthamsamai, who often attracts a full house. Since she was in school, Nan designed and made her own bags and wallets to sell at markets. Even though she studied architecture, her love for art and design led her in another direction.
Nan worked as an architect for a short while before being able to design bags and accessories for living. Her first break came by working as a designer for Jim Thompson.
“The first moment they showed me the stockroom that is filled with more than 2,000 rolls of animal skin, I got goosebumps,” Nan said. “Crocodile skin, buffalo skin, cow skin, and every skin beyond my imagination were all there. At that moment I knew I had to treat the leather with respect since those animals sacrificed their skins for us to use.”
She worked there for 10 years and learned a lot of techniques for crafting handmade leather accessories. She travelled within and outside Thailand to learn new techniques for creating the artisan products she loves. After studying with multiple teachers, she found the one teacher who best suits her need.
“I met one Japanese traditional artisan, Shishou Makita, who taught me not only the valuable techniques for leather work, but also how to treat the leather with the respect I believe it deserves,” Nan said.
Where her Thai teachers wanted to get the work done quickly and placed emphasis on volume, the end result was rough and inconsistent. But under Makita’s tutelage Nan learned the patience and concentration required to create precision pieces, with attention paid to every detail. Now, Nan is launching her own product line called Bangkok Artisan with the hope of taking Thai leatherwork to the international market.
Nan is scheduled to take two bag-making and leatherwork classes next month, with help from Makita, with more almost certain in the future due to popular demand. She wants to bring a bag designer and fixer from Hermes to join her in a class at Tentacles in the near future.
GET THEM READY
Henry’s plan to devote the upstairs area to a gallery space where young artists can exhibit free of charge has not quite come to fruition. While several artists have shown their work, it has been inconsistent. Henry, however, is happy to have more space to devote to training and workshops.
And it is here his business nous again comes to the fore, as he wants to prepare young artists to be ready to go out into the world. This requires more than painting techniques or being able to realise an artistic vision — it also requires being able to sell artworks, and communicating with galleries and prospective buyers both within Thailand and beyond its borders is key.
“If lacking English skills stops artists from going out to the world, I would like to change that by offering them lessons they can use to make a living from,” Henry said.
This was one of the main ideas behind creating the space. After successfully bringing artists to Thailand for his residency programme, he now hopes to reverse the flow and prepare emerging Thai talent to take on the world.
Also key is attracting an audience. Besides using the coffee shop as a people magnet, Henry plans to draw in crowds using a very different medium.
“I plan to bring in a fortune teller every full moon night. But I have to research how I can blend art with the supernatural. Since Thai people believe in supernatural stuff, I think this can be the perfect tool to hook people in and slowly show them how art can be in everything,” Henry said.
“I also plan to get young artists from different fields to make products for sale here in front of the warehouse and make it an art market.
“People love walking streets and they love night markets. We might as well combine art and shopping for everyone to enjoy.”
IN demand: Artisan Nan Suthamsamai shares her handbag and wallet making skills in popular classes.
Versatile: the workshop can fit up to 10 people. Far right, the cafe is an attraction.
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.