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Cambodian Traditional Pictorial Silk Textile Preservation and Development
January 11 – April 11, 2016
Introduction
This exhibition aims to introduce Pidan, the traditionalKhmer weaving, as well as to promote more widely the Cambodian textile tradition including the presevation of tie-dye and weaving techniques of silk ikat pidan.
What is Pidan?
Pidan symbolizes the profoundness and the excellence of the skills of ikat weaving as well as reflecting their important role in the society as these were traditionally hung in temples and depicted scenes related to Buddha. Creating a Pidan takes many months to tie and dye the complicated patterns then themeticulous hand weaving required very high skills.
This exhibition is composed of 11 pieces of pidans, the sample ikat cloth and raw material for producing natural dye and photographs of the process of indigo nat- ural dyeing.This exhibition is organized by Caring for Young Khmer (CYK), a non-government organization (NGO) and National Museum of Cambia. The exhibition pidans are the result of CYK’s training program for advanced young villa- ge weaver.Among the 11 piece of pidans, four pieces are dyed with indigo.
About CYK
CYK is a Japanese NGO working for deprived young children and women in Cambodia since 1991. The weaving program was started in 1993 in the village where childcare center locates inKandal province. By weaving traditional silk ikat and kroma at home, village women could earn extra income to improve their living. Over the following years weaving of traditional textiles has been revitalized. Recently, CYK has revived and developed the skills of traditional indigo dye making with a group of village women in Kompong Cham province.
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