After all, the material itself, said to be eco-friendly, remains a mystery to many.
In October of last year, Thilagham Nanthidhaven, owner of Vidhies Designs, began making coasters and trinket trays. However, it was her one-of-a-kind Buddha statue forged with jesmonite that became her signature piece.
FMT Lifestyle visited Thilagham, 46, at her art space in Puchong, where she single-handedly crafts all her pieces.
This mother of two, who worked with The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia for 12 years, quit her job in August last year to pursue her passion full-time.
But she wasn’t content with just creating any other ordinary handicraft. “I knew that I had to do something unique and it had to contribute to Mother Earth,” she said.
While a painter since childhood, this time she found interest elsewhere. “I love watching interior design shows and making my own house look nice. That’s how I got into home décor.”
After some research, she stumbled upon jesmonite. Common overseas, jesmonite is made from a combination of gypsum, a mineral created from sedimentary rock, and water-based acrylic resin. Known to be a sustainable material, it’s widely used to make decorative moulded objects.
“Not many people sell 100% jesmonite products in Malaysia because it’s quite expensive to import. It’s more common to see décor made of plaster,” she said.
After purchasing a few silicone moulds online, she began making everything from seashell trays to plant pots, following online video tutorials. She took to social media to sell her products, but sales were sluggish.
“For the first few months, I had no response,” Thilagham admitted.
That’s when the idea struck to experiment with making statues. Being a spiritually inclined person, Thilagham was drawn to the Buddha. She purchased a mould online, and the rest is history.
“In December, I received my first ever order, and unsurprisingly it was for the Buddha statue,” she said with a smile.
“I believe that I’m the first person in the world to craft such statues using jesmonite.”
Since then, it has become her best-selling item, but for Thilagham, it means much more.
“Buddha and I have a special bond. The number three is significant in Buddhism, so I set the price of the statue at RM30. It will always be this fixed price; I won’t raise it. Most people say it’s cheap, but I don’t want to profit from Buddha — I just want his blessing.”
Today, although she admits that educating people about Jesmonite is a tough battle, she sees gradual success. “I took about 20 Buddha statues to a bazaar, and everything sold out,” Thilagham recalled.
She even began making silicone moulds herself for more unique Jesmonite sculptures, like the Hindu god Ganesha.
Jesmonite, she said, has many benefits, such as being impact and heat resistant. However, it isn’t easy to work with.
“Once I mix the powder with the liquid, it will harden quickly so I have to work fast,” she explained. During the process, she meticulously weighs each ingredient to achieve the correct texture and finish.
“It takes about two to three days to create the final product, which includes drying overnight, sanding, and polishing.”
Although this is a labour-intensive craft that uses expensive materials, she insists on selling the products she makes at a reasonable price.
“I want to educate people about going eco-friendly. They may say, ‘What’s the point? I’ll just buy some plastic thing that is so cheap.’ But if we want to live a healthier lifestyle, our environment around us has to be good too,” Thilagham said.
So, if you’re aiming to spruce up your space with a touch of uniqueness without overspending, purchase a product or two from Vidhies Designs.
Follow Vidhies Designs on Instagram, and check out her website.