Temple restorer carries on family trade

via Phnom Penh Post, 04 July 2022: Feature on a Cambodian conservator who has spent most of his adult life restoring the temples of Angkor.

Born into a family that restores ancient Khmer temples, Ek Eam uses the same artisan skills of his grandfather and father, making him the third generation of family craftsmen. Despite a meagre salary, he pours his pride and his passion into the work.

Now 62 years old, Eam was born in Kork Beng village of Kokchak commune in Siem Reap town. He was expatriated from his hometown as a teenager, during the time of the Khmer Rouge.

He recalled the terrible times: “During the time of the Pol Pot regime, I left Siem Reap. I was in Chi Kraeng district until the end of the Khmer Rouge reign, and then returned home. When I made it back to my home, I learned that I was an orphan. I had no education and worked as a farmer.”

Eam married in 1986 and had two daughters and four sons. Besides farming, he also found work as a construction worker at the Siem Reap Airport. In 1999, he found himself involved in temple restoration work.

“The first temple I was involved in restoring was the Baphuon temple, which took more than 15 years to restore,” Eam told The Post.

Source: Temple restorer carries on family trade | Phnom Penh Post