A great chance to talk with K. Somnuk and K.Jom of Phuket Seashell Mesuem. Really impressive! That was the first time thay my interviewees gave me 2 kilos of mangosteen...how lovely :)
The article will be published in HOT magazine July issue.
---------------------------------------------------------------
For the Patamakanthin family, small is beautiful but also very educational. We find out how the shells of small sea creatures can explain the world we live in.
Somwang Patamakanthin, aka Jom, is the largest shell collector in Thailand. For more than 40 years he and his father, Somnuk Patamakanthin, who originally established the Phuket Seashell Museum, have been recognized as two of the world’s leading shell experts. In fact, they have even been giving the honor of having shells they discovered named after them.
Somwang also recently won first prize of Fan Phan Tae (The Real Fan) quiz show, which looks to find the best fan of a particular topic, emphasizing his affection and strong interest in all things shell related.
Starting from a love of nature and an attempt to understand the environment, Somnuk started out collecting every kind of shell he could find and exploring their fascinating background. It was at this stage that he decided that he would devote his life work to studying these beautiful and unique objects.
“There were countless shells in the sea but no one in Thailand who managed or collected them for the purpose of trading and education. I have always valued nature and I thought I could make use of shells harmlessly and effectively. As a result I established the shell museum at the same time that my son, Jom, was born,” Somnuk explains.
Like father like son. Jom has been inspired by his father passion, not just with an interest in collecting shells, but also using them as a way of making a living and broadening his horizons. “I’m interested in culture, art and history and thanks to shell collecting I have been able to travel the world. It has allowed me to see a variety of shells, a variety of human races and of course a variety of cultures,” says Jom, Managing Director and Curator of the Museum.
“My father always tells me that a shell’s worth more and tells you more than a cowrie. Shells can be the best historical evidence as they can relate to human life cycles. So studying shells, like studying fossils, is a way to study ourselves in the past. We know where we are from, who we are and how to adjust to this dynamic world without going against the flow,” he adds.
But this is just one aim of the shell museum, its key objective is to be a center for groups of people who share the same interest. “Creating a knowledge base is the heart of running any business. We gather like-minded people to develop the network, and allow them to share experiences. For the children, we also give them a chance to be inspired by shells,” says a happy Jom.
Their success means they are currently considering expanding the existing museum and opening new branches to help spread their message further afield.
“It’s important that we don’t keep this knowledge amongst just a small group of people. We might have a problem with high investment costs but we will never stop collecting shells. I’m projecting to run new museums in Silom, Bangkok and another one in Patong, Phuket. And I’m also looking at taking it international.”
With their strong commitment to nature the Patamakanthin family continue to travel around the world educating people on the idea of understanding life through the understanding of shells.
“You have to love nature and respect the balance of nature. Learn how to live with it and you will understand that change is just a natural concept. After all the Himalayan peaks used to be found at the bottom of the sea,” Jom concludes. -- Interview by Sarinthorn Eiamfang
Phuket Seashell Museum
12/2 Viset Rd., Rawai Beach, Phuket 83000 Thailand
076-381-266.
Open daily 8am-7pm
