Another textile form was that of embroidery. Young girls embroider, decorated and embellish pillows and prayer cushions. Meanwhile, the adult women made skirts and shirts, embroidering the hems and collars with designs of birds, dragons, the phoenix and Buddhist symbols. Wedding dresses, ceremonial costume and burial clothes were hand made from silk and embroidered with great care. At age fifty the cloth-makers were given the priviledge of making religious accessories for the pagodas. A dying art form from Laotian history is gold-thread embroidery, an ancient tradition from the court of Luang Prabang in Laos. Rarely seen in modern day times it is an important aspect of the cultural history of Laos, however it has somewhat diminished in recent decades. However, outside of Laos there are some are attempting to maintain and keep the tradition alive. Tiao Somsanith, who was embroidering designs for the royal family at the tender age of six. An example of his more recent work can be seen in the photograph above.

Art in the form of paintings seems hard to find, but there is a growing presence in modern day times of artists within Laos. The Ministry of Information and Culture estimates at least sixty professional artists live in Vientiane (as of 2000). In addition there are rare but very talented art schools in Vientiane and Luangprabang. There are also experienced craftsmen and carvers and their apprentices throughout Laos. While many of them are part-time, that number is an improvement on previous years. Historically, Laos paintings are done in water colour, or occasionally oils, and the subject matter was previously governed by politics. Rural scenes that depict the culture are most common, and artists are encouraged by the governing bodies to express the beauty and prosperity of Laos. It is not suprising how few artists are within the country when you consider that there is almost no revenue from within the country for paintings. It is difficult for the majority of Laotians to survive - let alone spend money on luxuries such as paintings. As tourism increases, however, so does the demand for modern art. To meet that demand some figures are breaking conventional rules within the country and starting to paint more modern subjects. For example, a small independent artists association is being developed, led by Luangrath Kongphat, (graphic designer for the Ministry of Education) who works in oils, and is encouraging portraits and print making. The government also tries to encourage more art work creation among the younger generation of Laotians. On a Lao goverment website they have even showcased gorgous drawings and paintings by young Lao students. In other instances more masters are taking in more apprentices to ensure that Lao craftsmanship is never lost and because the commercial value of what they produce is gaining more demand.

On an international level there is a Lao artist who now resides in Canada. His name is Thep Thavonsouk and has his own website which fully feature his oil on canvas paintings depicting Lao life. In them he uses lively colors with realism and impressionism techniques that offer an aura of mystique and beauty. In addition to the sample above, you can find more of his work and further background on Thep at www.junerain.com.

Lao art books are a rareity but as interest in Laos and its culture grows, books on Lao art, handicrafts and textiles (as well as travel and language books) are becoming more common in bookstores around the world.