Arjay Stevens – ART & SILK

Art & Silk
structure form color
Arjay Stevens
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Silk A Cambodian Treasure

In fact silk and silk weaving plays a historical and cultural part in the lives of the Cambodian people. Archeologists found evidence of silk production since the Funan period (1st to 6th century). Silk was commissioned and won by royalty and upper class exclusively.

In the 19th century, Cambodian ikat silks (chong kiet in Khmer) was considered among the finest textiles of the world: When the King of Thailand visited the USA in 1856 he brought as a gift for the Amerikan President fine Cambodian ikat cloth!

The most intricately patterned of the Cambodian fabrics are the sampot hol – skirts wom by women and the pidans wall hangings used to decorate the pagoda or at home for special ceremonies.

Today, after Khmer Rouge (in this dark period most weavers were killed and the whole art of Cambodian ikat-the traditional dying

technique – was in danger of disappearing), sof (silk weaving technique) is revitalized successfully. Cambodian yellow silk is famous for its fine quality.

Besides traditional skills and patterns there are improved techniques and high quality dyes combined with traditional and modern styles..

It is the unique silken sheen, the subtle traditional and modern patterns; the various kinds of structures from extreme fine to rustic… Beautiful colors developed from natural sources as well as using new intense high quality dyes… Last but not least there is that special feeling and even the sound of silk”..

Cambodian silk, in my opinion, is a living example of ART in structure, form and color that fascinated and inspired me to transform it into my way of photography.