Somchai Charoen was born in Thailand in the 1960s and moved to Australia in 2001. Trained in industrial ceramic design, he was a former lecturer at Silpakorn University in Bangkok. Through his ceramics, Somchai aims to explore the imagined interiors, sounds and textures of mountains and the landscapes that contain them. Somchai’s recent work ‘Sala’ draws on his Thai heritage and he says of this series “Sala is considered as a Symbol for many aspects and characteristics of Thai social life where ideas are debated, expressed and shaped, relationships are built and celebrations shared. My messages and vision of the Sala as spiritual space – a place for contemplation, healing and peace.”
Since migrating to Australia, Somchai has worked commercially as a mould and model maker, enabling him to establish his ceramic home ware label. Somchai is the co-founder of Belmore ITCH, a creative residency for non-ceramic artists to experiment, explore and interpret the medium. He has exhibited widely in both Australia and overseas.
