Sovanna Phum Art Association is a shadow puppet theatre company based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Sovanna Phum, which means ‘Golden Village’ in Khmer, was founded in 1993 by self-taught puppet maker Mann Kosal and French circus performer Delphine Kasam. The group performs two forms of traditional shadow puppetry, Sbek Thom and Sbek Touch. They also conduct regular training and education programmes on shadow puppet making and performi
This puppet depicts an ogre soldier amid combat, making his way towards the battlefield. His facial expression reveals his anger and determination to fight for his kingdom’s victory. His torso and arms are tightly lined in what appears to be body armour to protect him against the attack of weapons. This large piece is carved out of a single piece of cowhide, which is cut and later dyed in a type of coloured solution made of the bark of a Kandaol Tree before being cut to the desired shape and attached to bamboo sticks.