avatarTerrell Kaucher is The-Idea-Man.org

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“Journey Along the Khmer Road: Preserving Heritage, Confronting Looting, and Carving a Path to Cultural Restoration”

A recent episode of 60 Minutes titled “The Looting of Cambodia” and presented by Anderson Cooper, tells the story of more than 30 years of thefts of national treasures. The majority of these valuable pieces of art have wound up in prestigious museums and the private collections of the very rich. You can watch the 60 Minute presentation at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1DFOGHHcm4

This is my published comment to the above story:

“Thank you 60 Minutes and Anderson Cooper for bringing to light the travesty perpetuated against Cambodia in the looting of their national treasures. This looting was also taking place in Lao and Thailand. During this time period (2000–2015) I lived in what is referred to as the Asian Emerald Triangle, where Cambodia, Laos and Thailand intersect. These remote rural locations allowed the widespread looting, even the government militaries participated in these thefts”.

I had become enchanted with the people, culture and historical significance of an area known as the Emerald Triangle (where Cambodia, Laos and Thailand meet). After many trips exploring the ancient sanctuaries along the 1000 kilometer Khmer Road, which traverses the three countries, I decided to make this my home.

Constructed during Cambodia’s transition from Hinduism to Theravada Buddhism in the 13th century, the ancient Khmer Road stands as a testament to the enduring spiritual practices of the Khmer people. Along this historical route, sanctuaries were erected to offer respite to monks during their pilgrimages, strategically spaced to align with a monk’s daily walking distance. Initially comprising over 220 sanctuaries, only six have endured the test of time and have been meticulously restored, earning recognition as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Unfortunately, the majority of these sacred sites have fallen into various states of disrepair or lay in ruins. After years of dedicated exploration, I uncovered many of these hidden gems, marking the genesis of Emerald Triangle Tours.

Most of my tour clients were either professional or amateur anthropologists who needed an English speaking guide to lead them to these remote and often unknown locations. Business was good for nearly 10 years, but when these locations became well known my services were no longer needed. After seeing first hand the looting and desecration of these historical masterpieces, I decided to replicate some of these iconic stone Buddha sculptures.

The Khmer Road Sculpture business venture was formed with a dual purpose. Many of the lesser known historical sites were maintained and protected by the local villagers. Visitors to the sites provided a small income to the community locals for their services rendered (admission, snacks and drinks). Some local artisans using the same methods of hand carving stone Buddhas were appreciative of my efforts on their behalf and worked with me in my learning process of carving in stone (my background included sculpting in wood).

The following EIN News Release was written by Jude Law and submitted for publication in November 2017. A few of these links provided are no longer valid. Some are still active.

https://www.einpresswire.com/article/413450478/stone-sculptor-terrell-kaucher-creates-meditative-kakemono-scrolling-posters-that-inspire-our-higher-selves

Terrell Kaucher

The-Idea-Man.org

Art
Sculpture
Cambodia
Theft
Unesco
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