Wrap a Naga around your neck

GRAFFITI AND STREET art mix with the delicate silk of Jim Thompson in a new limited edition scarf, the Naga Pitak, designed by French graffiti artist Olivier Burel. 

Only 60 of the scarves have been produced by Jim Thompson as one of the Thai products being showcased in the art and design exhibition “Le Cabinet de Curiosites” curated by Thomas Erber. The exhibition began in 2010 at Colette, a famous concept store in Paris and later travelled to major art and fashion cities around the world including London, Berlin, and New York. “Cabinet” recently made its Asian debut at the Siwilai Concept Store at Central Embassy. 

Olivier Burel, who is also known as Ogreoner, was commissioned by Jim Thompson to create graffiti art of the mythical Naga on a large silk frame. The serpentine pattern was then developed for the limited edition scarf.

“In order to be part of this exhibition, the brand must be able to present and portray its identity in a new light and create a special piece of art. Our brand is synonymous with Thainess and a pride of Thailand. So we told the artist to present Thainess in an open and free interpretation,” explains Noppadol Baholyodhin, Jim Thompson’s creative director.

“Olivier Burel is a leading figure on Europe’s graffiti scene, and his creations are on walls in Paris, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Amsterdam. He has worked with major brands like Chanel and Philippe Starck and always retained his distinctive fierce character. The result was the Naga Pitak graffiti created with chalks and sprays on a four by six metre silk frame made with hand-woven New Khmer silk, Jim Thompson’s most popular silk.” 

The limited edition silk twill scarf is available in two sizes – 33 by 33 inches and 40 by 40 inches in turquoise and sepia.

“I used the Jim Thompson’s logo and reinterpreted it in a new way. I removed the delicate ‘tailing’ of the Thai letters and added strength to the text by using colours to create light and shadow,” Burel says. 

“The text is in the embrace of the Naga, the god of the river and the protector of Buddhism. The Naga is the symbol of powerful protection and reflects Thai heritage. Its mythical charm is also enchanting.”

 

STRONG AS SILK

Olivier Burel’s graffiti art and the Naga Pitak scarf on a large silk frame is on show as part of “Le Cabinet” exhibition on the first floor of Central Embassy until December 21. The limited-edition scarves are available at Siwilai on the mall’s fourth floor.