A visit to Artisans d’Angkor is a must to get a deep insight into the remarkable skilled workmanship of traditional handicrafts in Cambodia.
It was established in 1998 as a subsidiary of the Chantiers-Écoles de formation professionnelle – a professional training school sponsored by the National Cambodian Institution, the European Union and the French Foreign Ministry to impart free vocational training in traditional Angkorian art forms to the country’s illiterate young people between the ages of 18 and 25.
Founded as a three-year project, Artisans d’Angkor later became a limited company and is now an independent institution providing employment to over 1,000 dedicated craftsmen in the region while nurturing Khmer arts and crafts.
Through its network of 13 workshops spread across more than 10 villages in Siem Reap province, Artisans d’Angkor recruits 50 to 60 young apprentices from rural areas and trains them to gain authentic knowledge on Cambodian handicrafts as well as secure a sustainable career in their home villages.
Artisans d’Angkor enjoys international recognition for the upscale artifacts that are the outcome of constant research, genuine materials and perfect color as well as texture choices. Its workshops and boutiques serve as a platform to procure authentic information on traditional Khmer techniques deployed for lacquering and gilding, wood and stone carving and silk painting. For instance, stone carving is done here with sandstone that has been used by artisans since centuries to carve out stunning stone sculptures. Likewise, wood is carefully chosen to ensure that the end product will take after woodwork seen in ancient structures and pagoda embellishments.
For silk paintings that depict the religious beliefs and poetic implications, the artisans d’Angkor uses special kind of colors made using natural pigments. Upon applying this color on the motif and finishing it with a paintbrush as well as India ink, a gloss whose key ingredient is a natural wax is applied on it to provide an appearance that is akin to murals found in prehistoric temples. Additionally, a specialty of these paintings is that they are primarily created by young deaf women who are part of the NGO Krousar Thmey – an organization that is committed to render assistance to deprived children in Cambodia.
