The Ta Oy are an ethnic group from the far south of Laos who traditionally lived in the Annam highlands, along the border between Vietnam and Laos. The masks and wood carvings of the Ta Oy were traditionally used to represent ancestors and spirits and to adorn their community houses. Nowadays, they are primarily crafted for decoration and sale.

Masks are made by Ta Oy men and women in Champassak Province, who migrated from Sekong in the 1980s. The design of the masks is first roughly chiselled into wood, and the whole piece is charred in a fire. Then, the burnt wood is scrubbed off with a natural brush made from a dried coconut shell and polished with clear wax. Enjoy the video below of this process.

TAEC has been working with this carving community since 2010 and their masks and statues can be found in both our Museum Shop and TAEC Boutique.