Making Buddhist Statuary in Cambodia: Battambang, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh
Buddha statues are highly popular as souvenirs and for Buddhist worship. Many of them are judged as antiques just by the naked eye. This project aims to help staff from the Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, who work closely in the field, understand the technique of making Buddha statues and how to discern the difference between a replica and an authentic one. Craftspeople knowledgeable about the process and technique of making Buddha statues share information to build department staff’s capacity to make this judgment.
It is beneficial for the staff and as a reference for scholars and people from other art disciplines.
Most importantly, the project aims to illustrate the remaining traces of the ancient and new techniques for making Buddha statues. It provides a level of caution regarding the protection, preservation and sustainability of the method of making Buddha statues in Cambodia.
Download the report here