LEA SILK

Background

Artist Statement L.M.A. Laarakker
Artist name “Léa”

Woven silk fabrics serve as the starting point. Central to this is her extensive experience and deep-rooted knowledge of weaving techniques, gained over more than 30 years of working with silk farmers and weavers in Southeast Asia—a field in which she has become a recognized authority.

The process of painting silk fabrics and threads using plant-based, non-toxic dyes—and subsequently transforming them into objects—is highly spontaneous. Once a large piece of silk is stretched, it unfolds like a notebook, revealing ideas directly from her mind. Similarly, as silk threads are dyed, processed, and shaped, the inspiration for a given object emerges, guiding its creation.

The blending of colors is a defining element of the design. Her works and concepts evolve in a natural, organic way.

Her objects and silk textiles are held in private collections across Thailand, Bhutan, Canada, France, Germany, the USA, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, Mexico, and Italy.

In recognition of her contributions to the advancement of silk culture in Thailand, she was named “Most Outstanding Person of the Year” in 2006. Furthermore, the project in Ban Reng Khai has been honored 13 times with the UNESCO Seal of Excellence for outstanding handicraft and textile art.

For me, working with silk remains a great voyage of discovery that is not yet over.

Léa

Meer over de achtergrond van Lea Silk is te vinden op: banrengkhai.com

Activities / Activiteiten
  • Member of ETN- European Textile Network
  • Member of Zonta International
  • Advisor to UNESCO-APHADA for South East Asia
  • Member of Artist Society “De Groninger Kroon”
  • Lifetime member of Siam Society Bankok
  • Lifetime member of Thai Textile Association
Publications / Publicaties
  1. 1992 Book “Ban Reng Khai, A Village in Thailand”
Group exhibits / Groepstentoonstellingen
  1. 1978 International Women’s Festival “We”, Cairo, Egypt
  2. 1983 International Women’s Festival “Lilith”, Hilversum, The Netherlands
  3. 1989 Contemporary Thai Art, Bangkok, Thailand
  4. 1992 International Women Art “Women and Art”, Bangkok, Thailand
  5. 1993 International Designers, Frankfurt, Duitsland
  6. 1994 New York Fashion Institute of Technology “Beyond Tradition Laos Textiles Revised”, New York, USA
  7. 1997 Women´s “Art For Youth”
  8. 1998 “Textiles in Transition, Bangkok, Thailand
  9. 1998 “Textiles in Transition, Vientiane, Laos
  10. 2000 “Silk, Silk, Silk”, Bangkok, Thailand
  11. 2000 “The New Millenium Art Exhibition”, Hawaii, U.S.A.
  12. 2004 “Contemporary Thai-Dutch Art”, Quens Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
  13. 2004 “De Drie Zusters”, Carpediëm Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
  14. 2004 “De Drie Zusters”, Hilton Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
  15. 2004 “De Drie Zusters”, Vermillion Galleries, Singapore, Singapore
  16. 2005 “A Tale of One Kingdom”, British Council, Bangkok, Thailand
  17. 2005 Weft Forum, Kuching, Malaysia
  18. 2006 “De Drie Zusters”, Studio Wilma, Amsterdam, Nederland
  19. 2011 Kunst Driedaagse, Garnwerd, Nederland
  20. 2012 D(esign)-Day, Maastricht, Nederland
  21. 2012 Kunst in de Doorit, Garnwerd, Grn
  22. 2013 Wunderkammer, Midden-Beemster (N-H)
  23. 2014 24e Atelierroute Lauwersland, voorjaar
  24. 2014 Groepsexpo in Adorp, nov.
  25. 2015 Hong Kong Textile Society
  26. 2017 ‘Kunst aan Huis’ route
  27. 2017 Aduard 825, Aduard, Grn
  28. 2018 Piloersemaborg, Den Ham
  29. 2018 Meerpaal, Dronten
  30. 2018-2022 Atelierroute 99
  31. 2019 Lauwerslandroute
  32. 2019 Drie X Laarakker, Galerie Forma-Aktua Groningen
  33. 2022 Galerie Gewaagd Hornhuizen, “Geluk zit in een klein hoekje/doekje”
  34. 2023 “Gronings Licht”, MOW, Museum Oude Wolden Bellingwolde
  35. 2025 Kunst aan Huis Lauwerslandroute
  36. 2026 Jute, plastic en wat blijft met Kunstcollectief FIL
  37. 2026 De vier zusters Laarakker in de kerk van Zuurdijk
Solo exhibits / Solo-exposities
  1. 1990 – 1997 jaarlijks: “Art on Silk”, Neilson Hays Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
  2. 1994 – 2005 jaarlijks: “Contemporary Silk Art”, The Promenade Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
  3. 1994 The Regent Gallery, “Art on Silk”, Kuala Lumpur, Maleisië
  4. 1995 “Silk the Fabric”, Anders Midttum Gallery, Stavanger, Noorwegen
  5. 1995 “The Expression on Silk”, Gallery Beni, Kyoto, Japan
  6. 1996 “Silk Solo”, Privat Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
  7. 1999 “Tresors en Soi…..Tresors de Soi”, “Art-Gallery – Salles des Actes”, Parijs, Frankrijk
  8. 2003 “Art on Silk”, Gallery Paleo, Berlijn, Duitsland
  9. 2004 “Colours on and in Silk”, The Boathouse Gallery, Phuket, Thailand
  10. 2005 “Colours on Silk”, Amantee Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
  11. 2005 “Blues and Silk”, Blue Elephant, Bangkok, Thailand
  12. 2006 “Circles”, Baan Kanitha Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
  13. 2006 “Silk the Art of Life”, The Boathouse Gallery,Phuket,, Thailand
  14. 2007 “The Silk Christmas Tree”, Nai Lert Park Hotel,Bangkok, Thailand
  15. 2007 “Stars”, Amantee Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
  16. 2007 “East and West – How Beautiful the Twain Meet”, Gallery “Ursula”, Pattaya, Thailand
  17. 2008 “The Silk Christmas balls”, Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
  18. 2008 “Colours and Colours”, Studio Léa, Bangkok, Thailand
  19. 2009 “Art on Silk”, Studio Léa, Bangkok, Thailand
  20. 2009 “Silk, the Art of Life”, Boathouse Gallery,Phuket, Thailand
  21. 2011 “Tonen & Tronen” Vivante, Groningen, Nederland
  22. 2027 Siam Society Bangkok Thailand – gepland
Fashion and fabric shows / Mode- en stoffenshows
  1. 1978 Women Festival Fashion Show. Hilton Hotel, Cairo, Egypte
  2. 1983 Internationaal Vrouwen Festival Mode Show, Hilversum, Nederland
  3. 1993 International Designers, Frankfurt, Duitsland
  4. 1995 New York Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, U.S.A.
  5. 1999 The RICO-A MONA Extravaganza, Bangkok, Thailand
  6. 1999 Dazzling Fashion Show met Nederlandse ontwerpster Noëlle, Bangkok, Thailand
  7. 2000 Tresors en Soi….Tresors de Soi / Unesco, Parijs, Frankrijk
  8. 2001 Thai-Dutch Fashion Show / KAI + Noëlle Fashion, Hilton hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
  9. 2001 “Colours of Isarn” The Promenade, Bangkok, Thailand
  10. 2001 The Silk Walk met Thai Fashion Designer KAI, The Siam Society, Bangkok, Thailand
  11. 2003 “High Tea” met Thai Fashion Designer Kornkanok, Garden of Thanpuying Lursakdi Sampatisiri, Bangkok, Thailand
  12. 2004 “WHAT” Fashion & Juwellery Show met Duitse juwelenontwerpster Cornelia Rating en HOM, The Bed SuperClub, Bangkok, Thailand
  13. 2005 “Fashion Party”met Nederlandse ontwerpster Noélle, The Promenade Décor, Bangkok, Thailand
  14. 2005 “Silk makes You feel Good” met Duitse onwerpster Jula Reindell, The Promenade Décor, Bangkok, Thailand
  15. 2011 Textieldagen “Verhildersum”, Leens, Nederland
  16. 2012 Textieldagen “Verhildersum”, Leens, Nederland

Lea is Ridder in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau (1992).