Postcards in a cube

Pongsakorn “Get” Ketprapakorn, a 22-year-old Chulalongkorn University’s economics student, must surely be the first modern-day entrepreneur to launch a business with a budget of just Bt6. Yet that’s exactly what it cost him to create an attractive three-dimensional postcard, which he then offered to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

In his proposal, Pongsakorn informed the TAT that he was aiming to reflect the beauty and uniqueness of Thai culture through a collection of postcards portraying characters from the Ramakien as lightweight souvenirs that tourists would find convenient to take back home. The TAT was so impressed by the 3D cards that they offered to fund production.

Pongsakorn then roped in his younger brother Tharit, fondly known as Got, a student at Vancouver’s Emily Carr University in Canada, to design postcards.

“Everything started last year. I’ve been travelling to many countries as a YMCA national youth representative, so I have had to prepare plenty of souvenirs that portray Thailand. I wanted to give something more than just an ordinary gift, a token that could double as a collectible item,” says Pongsakorn. “My inspiration came while I was walking around the Temple of Emerald Buddha and looking at the walls, which are adorned with graceful sculptures and mural paintings depicting the Ramakien. I thought these might be familiar symbols of Thailand to foreigners.”

Influenced by the Japanese art of origami, the brothers launched their first selection of eye-catching cards that can be folded into 10-centimetre, three-dimensional figures under the Postcard Cube label. Under the slogan “write and display your happiness”, they made from glossy art paper and priced at Bt125.

There are currently four designs from which to choose: The green-faced Phra Ram is attired in a traditional costume from the Ayutthaya era; the white Nang Sida and mighty monkey Hanuman figures are both influenced by Rattanakosin art, while Thosakan (King of the Demons) is inspired by the sculpture in the Temple of Emerald Buddha. 

“The Tourism Authority of Thailand has chosen our cards as souvenirs to promote the country. We knew we’d achieved success when we earned orders from five hotels in Phuket too,” says Pongsakorn. “Inside the package, buyers will find instructions on how to fold a card into a three-dimensional form as well as a brief history of khon (the classic masked play) in English, Thai and Chinese. Our characters symbolise different virtues: Phra Ram represents bravery and fair-mindedness, Nang Sida relates to love, Hanuman is about honesty and strength while Thotsakan is a warrior.”

The brothers are also working with the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles to create a new selection of postcards depicting eight patterns of national dress designed by Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit.

 

FOLDING THE RAMAKIEN

Postcard Cube’s Products are available at Family Mart in Suvarnabhumi Airport and the museum shop at Temple of Emerald Buddha. Call (086) 759 7829 or visit www.Kaotom.com/postcard3.