‘My pregnancy is something I will never forget,” Ploenchan Vinyaratn said, recalling the day she learned she was expecting triplets. “Since I’m of small stature, there was a high risk of complications.”
Ploenchan and her husband Prinya Ruenprapan had tried to become pregnant through in vitro fertilisation (IVF). They were successful on their second effort, after which they learned about their impending triplets. In cases of multiple pregnancy, the potential for complications increases with each additional foetus and the petite textile designer rode an emotional rollercoaster throughout the next 34 weeks.
“I was quite afraid, because I knew having multiple babies also meant more risks,” she said. “How could I possibly carry three babies? We kept it a secret until we knew that they all were safe. Then I started telling my family and friends that I was expecting triplets.”
Ploenchan is a staple in the contemporary textile industry. A graduate in textile design from Central Saint Martins in London, she also received design accolades from Silpakorn University and from Elle Decoration Thailand. She established Beyond Living in 2003, a design studio famed for its hand-loomed textiles and decorative accessories seen in luxury resorts and posh properties.
During her pregnancy, Ploenchan endured drastic bodily changes and experienced mixed emotions, from anxiety to optimism.
“Throughout the pregnancy, the survival of all three of my babies was a major worry for me. However, I remained positive, ate well and kept very active. It was strange to have three babies kicking and moving around in my abdomen. There wasn’t a lot of room, so we could identify each of them and named them then,” she said.
Six years later, Ploenchan is the proud mother of three handsome boys — Trip, Trey and Troy. She is now crossing artistic boundaries by weaving her expertise into her art, celebrating unforgettable moments of motherhood in her first artistic collection.
“I’ve always been a designer,” she said. “I didn’t really have an idea of how an artist makes art. If it’s someone who paints, draws or makes sculptures all by him or herself, then maybe that’s not me, because my work involves a team of craftsmen. I wasn’t sure if I could do it until I was encouraged by my husband and a few active members of the local art scene.”
It took two years to handcraft her 20 pieces of art. The collection, entitled “Womb”, recounts Ploenchan’s pregnancy. She and her husband went through ultrasound images of their babies. She noticed patterns, objects and faces in the sonograms, and translated them into the language of textiles, under the pseudonym “Mookv”. The art is currently on show at Serindia Gallery.
“To me, art has to tell a story,” she said. “And the story I’ll remember forever is when I was pregnant. It’s become the main inspiration to create my very first collection of art.”
In “Womb”, the highlights are two large wall pieces, each measuring 2m by 3m. Dream Of The Unborn — Trip and Dream Of The Unborn —Troy are richly textured interpretations of the boys’ sonograms, accentuated by rigorous colours according to the Ploenchan’s emotions, as seen in thermal imaging. Smaller kilim works Trip and Trey combine tapestry imagery and the actual audio of foetal heartbeats.
With the three boys on top priority, Ploenchan arranges her schedule around their activities to maximise the family’s quality time together. Putting the kids to bed has been the duty of both her and her husband since day one.
“Child-rearing is a mutual responsibility; it’s a collaborative effort. I think the essence of parenting is sowing the best seeds in your children. Now that they have grown into their unique personalities, I’m happy to see that they love and care for one another,” she said.
“At a younger age, I never imagined myself being a mother. I learned it naturally, as my boys grow.
“When I was expecting, my body changed. I gave up on a lot of things to save them. That’s motherhood. You learn to sacrifice, to love and to give unconditionally.”
“Womb” is on show at Serindia Gallery (OP Garden, Charoen Krung Soi 36) until July 31.
