Abstract:
The research of Tai Khoen : The Identity and Multicultural Path in Art and Craft was to 1) investigate the context and identity of Tai Khoen ethnic group, 2) investigate the multicultural path in art and craft of Tai Khoen ethnic group, and 3) design pattern and bag product from the identity of Tai Khoen ethnic group. Mixed Methods Research was conducted. Research instruments consist of 5 types: 1) the interview form of the context and identity of Tai Khoen ethnic group; 2) the interview form of the multicultural path in art and craft of Tai Khoen ethnic group; 3) the opinion form of pattern design experts from the identity of Tai Khoen ethnic group; 4) the opinion form of bag product design experts from the identity of Tai Khoen ethnic group; and 5) the satisfaction questionnaire on bag pattern design and product from the identity of Tai Khoen ethnic group. Observation and in-depth interview were used for data collection. The whole key 60 informants were 30 people from elders, village headmen, community leaders, small entrepreneurs, and local scholars, 15 bag entrepreneurs, and 15 people of ethnic group in Ban Huai Nam Khun. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.
The result of this study found that Tai Khoen context and identity connected to 3 periods of changing lifestyles: 1) the community foundation period; 2) the community foundation period for change; and 3) the community period on the path of change and the identity that comes from the integration of occupation groups : lacquer ware, weaving product, and woven fabric. The multicultural path in art and craft of Tai Khoen ethnic group found 4 paths: 1) the exchange of raw materials; 2) the structure of belief in cultural area; 3) the production process of handicraft; and 4) the transition from ritual to commercial reproduction. The result of design a pattern from the identity of Tai Khoen ethnic group, 1 pattern, was the Bua Tong flower pattern. This pattern was designed by using laser cutting on bag product, 5 shapes, total 15 patterns. They were 1) Bucket Bag, pattern 3 was chosen,
( X = 4.32), 2) Cargo Bag, pattern 1 was chosen, ( X = 4.34), 3) Oversized Bag, pattern
2 was chosen, ( X = 4.33), 4) Sculptural Shapes Bag, pattern 3 was chosen,
( X = 4.37), and 5) Crochet Bag, pattern 3 was chosen, ( X = 4.35). The overall
satisfaction of bag entrepreneurs and ethnic groups in Ban Huai Nam Khun village
towards bags with Tai Khoen ethnic identity patterns found that was at the highest
level of satisfaction, ( X = 4.34). The identity and multicultural path of handicraft of
Tai Khoen ethnic group are important in maintaining the identity of the community inadapting to cultural change and promoting sustainable coexistence in a multicultural
society