Cambodia Culture and Art - Non-Western Blog
The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, overthrew the Lon Nol government in 1975 and abolished the monarchy. The goal of this action was to create a new society with all of the past influences destroyed. At this time, life in Cambodia was filled with anguish and terror. More than two million people died in the Southeast Asian country during the cruel regime that persisted until 1979. Those killed were either executed as enemies or died from hunger, disease, and being overworked. Art was nearly diminished in the country, and many artists were killed. The University of Fine Arts, the only art university in Cambodia, was closed.
The country has been investing widely to restore its artistic spirit after the fall of the Khmer Rouge. Artists and professors returned to the University to rebuild arts training. The government also sponsored the education of young artists abroad. Although the Cambodian tradition, rich heritage, and complicated past are still very present in many artistic practices, art in Cambodia has been steering away from the tradition as a wave of new contemporary art emerges, as well as talented artists. It may not tie to Angkor Wat or religion like art in the past, but it is still rich in Cambodian culture but expanding into more diverse styles and contexts.
Em Riem is a great and well-known artist in Cambodia. He is known for his paintings and rattan furniture designs. Riem reinterpreted photographs of deceased prisoners from the Khem Rogue. He had an exhibition with 15 portraits he painted. Each individual was sketched on coarse burlap using charcoal, then painted with black and white acrylic, with a touch of green to simulate the tone of old photographs. The merging of elegance in the portraits on old, well-used rice bags conveys the murderous regime's psychological haunting and physical brutality.
Riem's Untitled Paintings are difficult to observe. It brings sadness knowing the history and how many people suffered. It also brings importance to what happened and shows the faces of those affected by it. The paintings are very realistic. They genuinely look like old photographs. I also find it very special that he painted them on old, torn burlap rice bags. It enforces his message. The facial expressions on the two portraits tug on your heart. The women's emotionless face while she holds her baby. The man's angry expression; men tend to hide their emotions like fear with anger. Reading that Reim painted 15 portraits to bring attention to the history in Cambodia is so powerful. He held the exhibition because, in his country, the Khem Rogue isn't mentioned; it is hushed. He finds it essential to understand and remember what happened in the past. I agree that keeping history alive is vital, even the hard-to-swallow history of genocide. It helps society grow and not repeat.
Dina Chhan is one of Cambodia's only female sculptors and leading painters; she uses her art to address Cambodia's wildlife, nature, and social issues. Chhan is known for using bold colors. It is her trademark. Chhan collaborated with a fellow artist, creating an exhibition, 'Market - Disoriented,' to explore the Cambodian market as the archetypal element of Cambodian Culture and authenticity. Chhan painted sewist to be part of the exhibition 'Market - Disoriented'.
The marketplace in Cambodia is a light of the spirit and culture. It is a sensory blast of smell, sights, tastes, and sounds. The market is filled with fumes from nearby food stalls. There are sights of endless clothes, shoes, fabrics, and household goods. It is crowded and loud, filled with shoppers, workers, and it is filled with a realm of stories. The Sewist is done in this beautiful bold color scheme of red and yellow tones. The use of colors portrays a sensory blast, just like the market. The woman is working and sewing something that falls to the ground. Clothing is on display, and it looks as if there is fabric everywhere twisted and tangled. I love this painting and how it ties the spirit of the culture in Cambodia that is in the context of everyday life.
Din Borin is a self-taught artist and one of the most important abstract painters in Cambodia. Borin paints Apsara dancers in an abstract, whimsical way. The Apsara dance is a dance that dates back to the 7th century. It is an integral part of Cambodian culture. The story of the Apsaras is depicted and carved on the walls of Angkor Wat. The story is about beautiful female creatures who visit Earth from heaven to entertain gods and kings with their enchanting dance. Borin takes Cambodia's tradition and adds a modern twist of abstract expression. His painting is graceful, and I especially like Dancers Of The Heaven.
The texture of the painting is beautiful. I like the way the dancers are surrounded by it. It shows a sense of movement. The colors used in the painting are lovely, even the touch of blue. I think his work is exquisite. The way that Borin paints the Apsara dance truly portrays its beauty.
References
-, Aria Danaparamita, et al. “On Burlap, Em Riem Paints the Tormented Faces of Tuol Sleng.” The Cambodia Daily, 24 Nov. 2014, https://english.cambodiadaily.com/news/on-burlap-em-riem-paints-the-tormented-faces-of-tuol-sleng-72707/.
“About.” Dina Chhan, 7 Dec. 2015, http://www.artistdina.com/about.
Cambodia, / artist in. “History of Artist Chhim Sothy in Cambodia.” Khmer Gallery Arts, 6 Feb. 2018, https://sarabartist.wordpress.com/2018/02/06/history-of-artist-chhim-sothy/.
“Cambodian Culture and Its Glorious Tradition of Artistic Practice.” Widewalls, https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/cambodian-culture.
“Din Borin's Abstract Painting.” Arts of Southeast Asia, 8 Sept. 2021, https://artsofsoutheastasia.com/din-borins-abstract-painting/.
History.com Editors. “Khmer Rouge.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 12 Sept. 2017, https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/the-khmer-rouge.
Marissa. “11 Cambodian Contemporary Artists You Should Know.” Culture Trip, The Culture Trip, 6 Feb. 2017, https://theculturetrip.com/asia/cambodia/articles/10-contemporary-artists-from-cambodia-you-need-to-know/.
Marissa. “A Guide to Cambodia's Traditional Apsara Dance.” Culture Trip, The Culture Trip, 1 Dec. 2017, https://theculturetrip.com/asia/cambodia/articles/soaring-on-clouds-a-guide-to-cambodias-traditional-dance/.
TourismCambodia.com. “Khmer Art and Culture - Khmer Culture: Tourism Cambodia.” Khmer Culture | Tourism Cambodia, https://www.tourismcambodia.com/culture/art-and-culture.htm.
Shay,
ReplyDeleteIsn’t it amazing how art shows the beliefs of the people, or a king through people. The temple still being around is fascinating to me, because modern construction doesn’t seem to last hardly at all, yet we see things like pyramids, temples, and walls holding for literally thousands, it’s kinda mind boggling.
I think the coolest part about the temple is the pillars, something about them draws me in, imagine what it would look like from the inside looking out.
It is so sad to hear that the country went through such a miserably devastating time! But seeing how they are trying to revive the art and allowing modern art there is hope. Thank you for sharing!
Best, Ava