Cambodian goldsmith turns bullets into art to promote peace

Jewelry made from bullet shells are displayed at Angkor Bullet Jewelry in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 29, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

by Reuters

Mar 30, 2023 2:10 pm

Every week, Thoeun Chantha, a goldsmith from Cambodia, crafts jewelry from approximately five kilograms of brass casings that once contained bullets from AK-47 and M-16 rifles.

For more than two decades, the 42-year-old, whose father was killed during Cambodia's years of war, has run a workshop to turn symbols of violence into what he calls wearable pieces of art.

Thoeun Chantha selects bullet shells for making jewelry at his Angkor Bullet Jewelry workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 29, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

An artist melts bullet shells at the Angkor Bullet Jewelry workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 29, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

"I'm a victim of the war as a Cambodian who lost family members in it and now the world is at war too. I make this to show that the world doesn't want war ... we all want peace," he added.

The bullets are collected from shooting ranges and military training grounds around the capital, Phnom Penh.

Thoeun Chantha poses at Angkor Bullet Jewelry workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 29, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

Those deemed safe are melted and poured into a cylindrical mold before being cooled in a bucket of water.

The metal is then shaped by hand into intricate bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings to be sold for $5 to $20 a piece at markets popular with tourists.

Last Update: March 30, 2023 15:23

Edited By: Buse Keskin