Lucienne Manzart

What is your full name?

Lucienne Manzart. 

What is your first name?

Lucienne. 

Where were you born?

Australia. 

Where do you currently reside and work?

Siem Reap, Cambodia and New South Wales, Australia. 

What is your educational background?

I obtained a Diploma in Fashion Design from TAFE South Australia and a Diploma in Ceramics from TAFE New South Wales.

What are other details of experiences, work or otherwise, that have led you to your current work?

Before founding Claycult Cambodia in 2012, I spent many years travelling the world. These experiences shaped my creativity and my interest in craft traditions.My background began in fashion design, where I completed a Diploma in Fashion Design before pursuing a Diploma in Ceramics. Although my practice eventually moved toward clay, fashion continues to influence my work through colour, texture, layering and adornment.While living in Cambodia, I became interested in local clay traditions and began experimenting with ceramics using locally sourced clay and a kiln we built from reclaimed firebricks. In 2012, I relocated to Siem Reap from Sihanoukville and established Claycult Cambodia with three staff members, beginning the journey that continues today.

How would you describe your practice/business?

Claycult Cambodia is a contemporary Cambodian artisan studio creating handmade ceramic beads and jewellery. Claycult combines traditional craftsmanship with a modern aesthetic. Founded in Siem Reap in 2012, the business operates as a social enterprise.Each ceramic bead is crafted by hand, then hand-painted and subsequently fired in our kilns resulting in pieces of unique beauty in an array of exquisite glazes, colours and textures.

What are the highlight projects in your career so far?

A fun highlight for Claycult Cambodia has been seeing our work recognised internationally. Our jewellery has been featured in British Vogue and appeared on the runways of New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.Opening our first store at Siem Reap International Airport in 2018 was a major turning point for Claycult. Suddenly, our work was being seen by millions of travellers from all over the world. It became an important stepping stone for the growth of the business.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently focused on new jewellery collections, creative collaborations and expanding our international online and wholesale market. An exciting new project for Claycult is the creation of a new workshop space in Siem Reap, where visitors will be able to step inside a working clay studio, see how everything is made and take part in hands-on experiences such as the making and painting of beads.At the same time, we are working towards the team gradually taking over the running of the studio and business. From the beginning, the idea behind Claycult was to train local Khmer staff in the skills with which they could eventually go forward on their own while earning a good living. Now feels like the right time for them to start taking the reins.

Instagram: @claycult
Website: www.claycultcambodia.com