This is just a part of Sao Sreymao’s daily work as a skillful and talented artist. Born in a poor family in Battambang, what make this 28-year-old girl who gave up school at grade 7 have such a bright future?
As the oldest child among 7 siblings, Sreymao left school at grade 7. Fortunately, there was a technical training school, PHARE POLEU visual art, which give her a chance to be an artist. As the result, she went to PHARE POLEU Visual Art in 2000.Having trained for 3 years, Sreymao was suggested to be a factory worker in Phnom Penh, but she refused and continued her study. She said, “After I thought again, I decided to continue my training skill because I believed that it would help me and my family in the future.”
There is a saying, “Escape from crocodiles in the water, then face tigers on the land.” Similarly, Sreymao worked as cleaner at a Korean restaurant in Siem Reap in 2004 because she would like to help her family. Luckily, this struggling girl was called to employ in the project of PHARE POLEU as a decorator for four months in 2005. Since then, Sreymao’s life went on the right track which was honing in her skill.Due to her hard working, Sreymao was introduced to work as environmental artist at Angkor Center for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) in Siem Reap in 2006.Then, she was promoted to be an environmental educator in 2008. Later on, she spent two years working as Art Environmental Consultant in Kratie and other two years as freelance comic artist and graphic designer.In 2012, Sreymao has worked an assistant at RomeetGallery. In her artwork career, she accomplished some projects in comic with other institutions such as British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), and so on. Meanwhile, she also used to join workshops and artwork exhibitions. Especially, she won the Heart Award in International Comic Festival which she traveled to Paris and exhibited her art comic in Angouleme in 2011.
“I had a strong commitment and hardwork ethic as well as talent in order to be an artist.”Sao Sreymao does love her career. She can do both hand and electronic drawing in comic, but she loves hand drawing more. Although it is much more difficult, but the artists work will never be out of date. For her further work, Sreymao aims to mainly connect her artwork to education. She ended, “I am happy when my work is related to education since artwork is very effective, even more than language in some Particular cases.”education since artwork is very effective, even more than language in some Particular cases.”
