| Greetings. Welcome to another week in the arts in Cambodia, in which we can find an antidote to the commencement of election festivities.
The week kicks off with the Cambodian-American Friendship Concerts organised by Cambodian Living Arts at InterContinental Phnom Penh. Tonight the Boston Children’s Chorus and tomorrow the New York New Music Ensemble, both at 7 pm. To get a flavour of Wednesday night’s show you can read an interview with Khmer composer Him Sophy here. The NYNME will also play at the Shina Mani Hotel in Siem Reap on Saturday night at 8 pm. Then on Friday evening at Meta House, the opening of a new showcase covering six years of Global Hybrid: HERo.e.S/HER open eyeS, a selection of works curated by Denise A. Scott, blending the work of rising young Khmer artists with mid-career US artists. From 6 pm. The exhibition will later travel to Lotus Gallery in Battambang.
Karaoke, Oeur Sokuntevy The third annual Art Olympics Project, presented by the US Peace Corps, opens at Meta House on Saturday night at 6 pm, featuring works by students from nine Cambodian provinces who took part in a nine week critical thinking art course, submitted works, and were chosen to participate in an art workshop in Phnom Penh with Chov Theanly and Oeur Sokuntevy. Thai community theatre group Moradokmai and Osono Theatre Group from Romania are in town to co-present collaborative performances this weekend. Saturday and Sunday night at Meta House at 7 pm, and then a double header at Botanic Café/Art Gallery (St 19, just north of St 172) on Monday 8th at 7 pm. Here’s a taste. Keep it Simple, Stupid, a new exhibition that opened yesterday at the tiny but innovative Rik Reay Gallery on St 178, presents work by comic artists arising from Our Books/ Siewphew Yeung participation in the Mekong ICT Camp in May. The works on display will change every few days between now and July 14, while the entire exhibition is available on-line at Flickr set and PDF. Received here at Kumnooh mission control this week: an open call for submissions to Singapore-based Spot Art, an international juried art festival for artists under 30 years old, with a focus on South East Asia. Applications close 5 July. In conclusion, well-loved Phnom Penh music venue Equinox is keen to hear from artists who would like to exhibit in the downstairs space. Check the on-going listings below for more details. Make yours a creative week, support an artist near you! And spread the word about Kumnooh, so we can build a better connected and stronger artistic community in Cambodia. Thanks for your ongoing support. Oh, and for the more loud sorts of music, make sure you follow LengPleng.com as well. Fabian Hipp Kumnooh |
| In brief: new and returning… |
| Cambodian-American Friendship Concerts at InterContinental Phnom Penh. Tuesday, 7 pm for Boston Children’s Chorus and Wednesday, 7 pm for New York New Music Ensemble. NYNME then heads to Siem Reap to play Shina Mani Hotel on Saturday 6th at 8 pm. More info Phnom Penh More info Siem Reap Artist talk by Daniel Rothenberg: the Life Is community photo series, Meta House, Wednesday 3rd, 7 pm. Global Hybrid: HERo.e.S/HER open eyeS, young Khmer and mid-career US artists, curated by Denise A. Scott, Meta House, Friday 5th from 6 pm. Art Olympics Project, presented by the US Peace Corps, Meta House on Saturday 6th at 6 pm. Thai/Romanian theatrical collaboration Moradokmai and Osono: Saturday and Sunday night at Meta House at 7 pm; then Monday at Botanic Café/Art Gallery (St 19, just north of St 172) at 7 pm. |
| Ongoing…. |
Surviving, by emerging Khmer artist Chov Theanly, at Java Gallery & Café on Sihanouk Blvd. Until July 7.
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Sampot: The Collection of Small Things, by Chan Dany, at Sa Sa Bassac on Sotheros Blvd . Until 14 July.
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Keep it Simple, Stupid, a new exhibition at Rik Reay Gallery, St 178, from Our Books/ Siewphew Yeung. Until July 14.
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Even more info
Homme et nature (Man and Nature) by Nou Sary, at L’Institute francais. Until 31 August.
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Elegy: Reflections on Angkor by John McDermott. The award-winning American photographer maintains his strong presence on the Siem Reap art scene with his mesmerizing monochromatic fine art images of Angkor taken between 1995-2009. Now exhibiting in three McDermott Galleries located in the Old Market Area, FCC Angkor Complex and Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor.
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Plae Pakaa, a program of 3 rotating performances of Cambodian traditional arts at the National Museum of Phnom Penh. A Cambodian Living Arts production. Every Friday and Saturday, 7 pm (May to September); Monday to Saturday, 7 pm (October to April).
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Phare Ponleu Selpak, the famous Cambodian circus school offers nightly performances in both Siem Reap and Battambang, on a rolling cycle of different works.
In Siem Reap: at 7.30 pm under the big top in Siem Reap, behind the Angkor National Museum, in front of Angkor Century Hotel.
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In Battambang: visual arts exhibition from 6.15 pm then circus show at 7 pm.
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Kumnooh 