The Creation of Contemporary Pottery: the Study of Wisdom and Relationship to the Community Life of Lao Wood Kiln in Lao PDR

Abstract

This article is in partial fulfillment of the dissertation titled Lao wood kiln: the wisdom and relationship to the community life for creation of contemporary arts. The data was collected from documents and research sites at Lao PDR as a qualitative research through survey, observation, and interview. The results showed that wisdom and relationship to community life for the creation of contemporary arts of Lao wood kiln contained an identity that provided effective kilns depending on the location. Rituals such as the respect of Dharani and the prohibition of women and monks from approaching the kiln have been inherited and practiced until nowadays. Six pottery works were designed based on the concept of the “Form of Life”. The pottery works expressed the wisdom of wood kilns through the colorful shades of color and the plain shape to create new knowledge relevant to creative pottery works resulting from the study of style and wood kiln community life at Lao PDR.