Hand-painted Cambodian signs
Sam Roberts, the brains behind the excellent Ghostsigns project, to archive hand-painted advertising on buildings, has spent two years working with Voluntary Service Overseas in Cambodia.
Source: Sam Roberts/Ghostsigns
Cars and motorbikes washed, repairs, interiors and engines cleaned
Posted with his wife to the north-east Cambodian town of Kratie, Roberts began to notice the hundreds of hand-painted signs advertising goods and services as wide-ranging as hairdressing, dog-meat and spit-roasted pigs.
Source: Sam Roberts/Ghostsigns
Dog meat for sale
Roberts says hand-painted signs were common in Cambodia up to the arrival of the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. The signs, and the people who painted them, were targeted by the regime as they exist at the intersection of arts and commerce – both things the Khmer Rouge sought to destroy.
Source: Sam Roberts/Ghostsigns
Soiy Parth spit roast pig
There was a revival of sign-painting after the regime was toppled, but they now face another threat, from technological and economic development.
Source: Sam Roberts/Ghostsigns
Hairdressing
Roberts says, ‘The loss of hand-painted signs marks a distinct period in countries’ economic development. It is the point at which access to technology and rising labour costs tip the balance in favour of mechanical or digital formats.
Source: Sam Roberts/Ghostsigns
If you have illegal weapons, please give them to the local authority
‘In the UK this happened in the middle of the last century, in Cambodia it is happening now.’
Source: Sam Roberts/Ghostsigns
Da modern barbers, haircuts, public phone service available
Roberts has spent his time in Kratie photographing and documenting more than 170 different signs, from the Kratie Dara Pich music group to the Da modern barbers (public phone service also available).
Source: Sam Roberts/Ghostsigns
Kratie Dara Pich music group, pop music, classical music, available for hire
Roberts also tracked down some of the painter responsible for the signs, such as Kratie’s leading artist Sai Sokheang.
The result is Hand-painted Signs of Kratie, which will be available in November from kratie.ghostsigns.co.uk and www.facebook.com/HandPaintedSignsOfKratie.
Thanks for the plug and your kind words about my work on ghostsigns.
These are great! Really interesting to see the signs, and brilliant to capture this moment of change in Cambodia.
great!
Now can we seek and burn each wretched acrylic printers that have filled our streets with the worst graphical filth ever seen! seriously bring back the sign writer, clean up our high streets and sell more products!