'The Craftsman' turns good trade
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Despite dropping out of school early and coming from a poor family, Kaweesak "Jeab the Craftsman" Chuwichit now earns Bt15,000-Bt20,000 or even more a month making and selling traditional shadow puppets to tourists in Krabi.
After completing Prathom 6, Jeab, now 36, stopped his schooling due to poverty and became an apprentice to his father Saneh, a puppet maker for the Nang Talung Southern Thai Shadow Puppet Theatre.
He came to love the art of puppet carving, as it required delicate skills to turn hides into characters that reflected the southern culture.
Jeab and his dad sold the puppets at a shop in Phatthalung’s Khao Chaison district for 15 years. They also travelled all over the South to sell puppets and demonstrate the art at fairs.
Then in 2007 Jeab moved to Krabi in the hope that this would give him a chance to gain fame and fortune.
He saw potential in Nang Talung as a unique craft that could be made into artistic souvenirs for tourists.
Selling Nang Talung shadow puppets at events, Jeab built his reputation and won recognition. He demonstrated puppet-making to customers placing orders, besides selling finished products for Bt180 per 5-to-7.5-centimetre puppet up to Bt4,500 for a 10-21cm model. Many visitors from Europe and Asia snapped up the handmade puppets for souvenirs.
Expecting high competition in handicrafts when the Asean Economic Community knocks down trade barriers in 2015, Jeab said he is alert and constantly seeking ways to upgrade his skills, expand puppet designs and improve packaging.
Jeab’s shop, on Krabi Walking Street Soi 8, opens at 5pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
