A MONK’S REMORQUE KONG

In 2009, the head monk of Wat Athvea, HOMSOY Jeun, died. For his funeral, a bicycle trolley (remorque kong) was constructed to carry the presiding monk at the head of the funerary procession to the nearby crematorium. The remorque is still in use, but its pedal-and-chain drive rusted and has been removed. Now, mourners manhandle the vehicle along, gaining merit for their effort. Engineering-wise, it is an elongated tricycle, as no hinge mechanism joins the bike to the trolley behind. Nevertheless, befitting the presiding monk’s status, the tricycle has been adorned with two naga sideboards, painted in orange with black highlights, and an O-ring mount at the back to hold a ceremonial umbrella. The trolley’s backboard is a symphony of golden k’bach decorations that follows the same design construction seen on Angkorian temples, with swirls of rococo leaves centred on a chrysanthemum, as seen below. Its a great example where traditional decorative imagery, which has evolved over 2,000 years through the Angkorian periods, enhances a, what I call a 'mid-modern' form of transport; the bicycle.

DEATH BECOMES YOU