Traditional hand-painted signs live on in the Kingdom as one artist works against time and technology to preserve the beauty of the old ways.

The tradition once thrived and can still be spotted occasionally in the countryside and in some areas of Phnom Penh, but the humble hand-painted shop sign may soon be a thing of the past as Cambodia becomes increasingly accustomed to Western advertising techniques. Some may consider hand-painted signs, known in Khmer as chook tip (‘perfect painting’), unsophisticated, but they certainly do get the message across.

They still hang in back streets, alleys and lanes advertising a variety of wares and services, from long-lashed brides and freshly shaven young men to motorbike repair shops, photocopy facilities and pool halls. The retro-charm of these quintessentially Cambodian hand-painted signs may soon disappear-a victim of the digital age’s preference for detailed airbrush techniques and computer-generated graphics. Hand-painted signs are now more expensive than machine-painted signs, but some customers still the traditional hand-painted signs.

To see examples of this traditional art form, and maybe take one home as a unique souvenir, when in Phnom Penh visit Bojangles Restaurant on the riverside (next to ANZ Bank) where you will find not only a great display of traditional shop signs, but also tasty, cheap Khmer and Western food.

Edited from: Phnom Penh Post (26-9-08)