Search
CAMBODIA’S ART RENAISSANCE
THE HEADY DEVELOPMENT OF CAMBODIA’S CONTEMPORARY ART SCENE REMAINS RELATIVELY UNKNOWN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD; CHARLOTTE LANCASTER PROFILES THE ARTISTS WHO ARE WORKING TO CHANGE THAT. PHOTOGRAPHY BY VINH DAO
KONG VOLUK Born: 1983
Art is woven into every part of Voluk’s life. “Art is a way of communicating with the audience, a way of pushing issues forward into the public realm,” he says. Inspired by local artist Pich Sopheap and international artists Ali Sanderson and Panca Evenblij, Voluk believes that contemporary art is here to stay. “A lot of new ideas are coming into Cambodia and a lot of foreign artists are visiting, sharing their experience and knowledge,” 
he adds.
Voluk, an emerging artist, is confident that the future is bright for Cambodian art: “We are learning to create art that has a purpose, but is also distinctively Cambodian.” He would eventually like to see more artists going overseas to strengthen their experience and resolve.
LEANG SECKON Born: 1974
Art first became a part of Leang’s world at the age of four and has been “very important” ever since. “Without it, I would be bored and there would be no balance in my life,” he says. A graduate of the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh, Leang uses a mix of mediums to give depth and texture to his art, and is known for his use of glue and sewing on canvas. For Leang, art’s a philosophy – a way of teaching people about the world, a way of showing peace. “Art is all encompassing; we’re still learning. Cambodian art was successful during the Angkor period 
and was nearly demolished during the Khmer Rouge regime, but I hope that now art is in the heart of all.”
Leang has exhibited in Norway, Hong Kong and the USA, and has been extensively showcased in Cambodia. He has run workshops, given lectures and illustrated a book. An ardent supporter of environmental issues, he is one of the founders of the Rubbish Project, a network of volunteers working in the arts and entertainment industry raising the profile of environmental issues in Cambodia.
MEAS SOKHORN Born: 1977
A finalist in international juried art competition the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize, “Korn” is already slated as one of Cambodia’s premier contemporary artists. A graduate from the Royal University of Fine Arts with a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Korn has enjoyed a series of group and solo exhibitions within Cambodia. Using a mix of mediums, Korn paints on canvas and sculpts with rattan. “Smoke is a source of inspiration for me. I often lie in my hammock, smoke a cigarette and watch the smoke spiral upwards,” says Korn, talking of the vision of harmony and sense of peace that are reflected in his sculptures. “Art is a form of silent conversation.”
Korn is eager to show the world that contemporary art’s emergence here is pushing forward a new form of communication. Korn believes that as things are changing fast in Cambodian society, it is important for artists to delve deeper into their hearts, use both eyes and reflect the Cambodia of today. “The art scene is developing quickly. It is our time to shine.”
PICH SOPHEAP Born: 1969
Born in Battambang, near the Thai border, Sopheap completed his art training when he and his family moved to the US after the Khmer Rouge regime ended. Returning to Cambodia in 2001, Sopheap developed his signature sculptures made out of bamboo and rattan. “These materials hold the closest identity with my childhood,” says Sopheap, who is recognised as one of the leading contemporary artists in the country.
Inspired by artists such as Henri Moore and Brancuso, Sopheap believes that international interest in Cambodian art is increasing. “The art scene is alive,” he says. Sopheap advocates the importance of travel as a means of validating artists’ work, but understanding the limited opportunities for the majority of Cambodian artists to fund overseas exhibitions or trips, he welcomes the recognition given by foreign artists travelling to Cambodia. “People like Ali Sanderson, Dana Langlois and Nico Mesterharm are creating opportunities and energy vital to art progression in Cambodia.” In 2005, Sopheap co-organised the first Cambodian art festival, Visual Arts Open.
EM RIEM Born: 1977
Riem was awarded a six-year scholarship at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Saint-Etienne, France. Coming top of his class for six consecutive years, Riem not only established himself as a prominent artist, but also showed the world that Cambodian artists have the ability to match European talent. Riem mixes canvas, cotton, metals, plastic, iron and other materials (such as jeans) to create depth in his work, which is proudly abstract.
Even though Riem’s “souvenirs of difficulty” – portraits of Khmer Rouge victims on rice bags – are popular, he believes that the former regime’s influence is not strong in contemporary art. “Cambodian art is changing rapidly due to external influences. For it to progress, it is important for young artists to go abroad.” Riem has been exhibited more than 20 times in Cambodia, France, Spain and the US.
TITH KANITHA Born: 1987
“I don’t want to be controlled; art gives me the freedom to do as I like,” says the young artist who studied Interior Design at the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh. Kanitha’s focus on installations sets her apart from the other artists. “It is different; I want to introduce new ideas through my creativity.” Inspired to become an artist as a young child when she saw an image that spoke to her, Kanitha is happy to see that the Cambodian art scene is developing and is not only being used as a tool for addressing late-20th-century history. “The more artists this country generates, the better known it will become,” she says.
In 2006 and 2007, Kanitha attended a workshop with artists Mark Pollack and Margherita del Balzo, and her paintings and installations have been exhibited in group shows at both Meta House and the Department of Plastic Arts in Phnom Penh.
OEUR SOKUNTEVY Born: 1983
“Tevy” studied art and painting from 2001 to 2004 at the Phare Ponleu Selpak art school, Battambang. With a predilection for mixing organic materials, including oils and coffee grinds, Tevy hasn’t received any fine arts training overseas, yet by reading books and observing what artists around her are doing, external influences have found their way into her work.
“When I make art, I am happy. I spend all my time doing art… my whole time,” she says. For Cambodian art to play a larger role on the international stage, Tevy believes that people need to open their minds and that artists need to engage in their work full-time. Tevy’s work is on display at the Singaporean Art Museum and is part of the permanent collection at Meta House. She has been showcased in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap; her solo shows in the capital exhibit her contemporary take on traditional themes and this has recently included a sculpture exhibition.
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY
The emergence of a fresh generation of Cambodian artists has resulted in significant conceptual strides in recent years. Making a break from traditional depictions of Angkorian art, these young artists, under the influence of work from abroad, have found a new freedom to self-express. “By using local resources in different ways, Cambodian artists are branching out from ‘the norm’, branching out from traditional notions of art that allowed no room for variation,” explains Ali Sanderson, an Australian artist and curator currently working in Cambodia.
Since 2000, initiatives by private institutions such as Reyum Gallery, the French Cultural Centre, Java Café & Gallery, and more recently the Meta House and The Mekong Art and Culture Project, have exposed burgeoning artists to international styles and techniques through exhibitions and workshops. “Young artists have become more experimental; their ideas, egged on by international influences, have become more solid and resolved,” Ali says.
After 29 years of liberation, the return of political stability – and the subsequent influx of foreign money – have alleviated the desperation that previously sidelined Cambodia’s art and capped its development. “The presence of the NGO community and the rise of private initiatives have not only injected financial support into the arts, but have also inspired artists to address social issues that affect modern society – such as pollution, land rights and female trafficking – in a creative manner,” says Dana Langlois, owner of Phnom Penh’s Java Café & Gallery.
The challenge that faces the majority of Cambodia’s contemporary artists is the isolated space in which they work. “For art to progress, artists need to be exposed to different theories and techniques, and need to broaden their thinking through experimentation,” Ali says. “Most of the artists cannot afford to travel, and therefore their experiences are limited to what is available in Cambodia.”
Like the increasing number of visiting international artists who host exhibitions, workshops and talks, the return from overseas of Cambodian artists is introducing ideas and theories new to the country. This is not to say that “Westernising” your art is the key to success. As Ali points out: “Artists just need to be aware of what is going on elsewhere, and they need the confidence and focus to develop their art so it can be accepted in its own right at an international level.”
Meas Sokhorn’s recent nomination as a finalist for the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize 2008, which recognises the best of contemporary art in the region, will go some way to alleviating international acceptance. “It is good for Cambodia to be represented in Singapore,” agrees Sokhorn. “It is good for people to take notice.” – Charlie Lancaster
ADDRESS BOOK
Reyum Gallery 47, Street 178, tel +855 (0)23 217149, www.reyum.org
French Cultural Centre 218, Street 184, tel +855 (0)23 213124, www.ccf-cambodge.org
Java Gallery 56, Sihanouk Boulevard, tel +855 (0)23 987420, www.javaarts.org
Meta House 6, Street 264, tel +855 (0)12 607465, www.meta-house.com
Xem Design 13Eo, Street 178, tel +855 (0)23 722252
Khmer Art Gallery 17Eo, Street 47 (Rue de France), tel: +855 (0)16 818034
Apsara Art Gallery 170A, Street 450, tel +855 (0)12 867390
Scan Gallery 4, Street 282, tel +855 (0)23 214498
Two Fish Studio 2D, Street 302, tel +855 (0)16 377687, www.twofish-gallerycafe.com
Bookmark This Post
