Angkor Wat Prints:
Angkor Wat and surrounding temples are some of the most stunning sights in the world, on par with the Great Pyramids of Egypt, Machu Pichu in Peru, and the Taj Mahal in India. The Angkor Archaeological Park is an enormous complex of millennium-old temple ruins from the Angkorian-era Khmer Empire. Located in the north of Cambodia outside Siem Reap Town, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is deservedly revered by Cambodians and visitors alike as a unique and magnificent historical and religious wonder.

While road improvements and a new airport in Siem Reap have made Angkor Wat more accessible in recent years, the cost of travel is prohibitive for most Cambodians. With a median annual income of less than $500, the $12 roundtrip bus fare from Phnom Penh is too expensive, and the time needed to travel means lost wages that are not easily recovered.

The deep religious and cultural significance of Angkor are so important to the identity of Cambodia that people have developed unique ways to share the imagery from the temples. Long before modern technology allowed people to see photos or films of the site, Cambodians recreated many of the famous carvings and painted pictures of the architecture for display in homes and temples outside the Siem Reap area.

One ancient tradition that lives on today is print making. Carvings are reproduced and used as a mold for prints. Paper is handmade, and while wet, placed on top of the carvings and molded into the shapes of the carvings. Then the bas-relief is highlighted with paint to bring out the intricate designs from the temples. These prints are highly artistic and suitable for framing as fine art.