Greetings,

To begin a busy Wednesday 17, Cambodian Living Arts presents an artist talk by Tran Luong, performance and visual artist, independent curator and major figure in creating space for critical contemporary art in Vietnam. The event runs from 5.30 – 7.30 pm and the talk, Politics of Art Spaces/The Guerrilla Shows, commences at 6.30 pm.
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On Wednesday 17, from 6 pm at Meta House, the opening of a photographic exhibition by Phnom Penh based German artist Svenja Burgwinkel, featuring drag queens from Phnom Penh’s famous Blue Chilli bar, as part of LGTBi Pride week.
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At the Lotus Pond Gallery at The Plantation on Wednesday 17, from 6.30 pm, the opening of the exhibition Panta Rei by visual artist Karen Hartmann, based upon “the famous aphorism from Greek philosopher Heraclitus. In the Cambodian context, the phrase echoes with the Buddhist concept of anicca, impermanence, the idea that all is transient, in particular “everything born of eye-contact”.” Until 19 June.
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Also on Wednesday 17 at 6.30 pm, Bophana Centre hosts a new media exhibition as part of month-long American Arts Incubator workshops and community projects attempting to use such techniques as 360 virtual reality and augmented reality to support environmental health challenges. Until 16 June.
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Thursday 18 at the French Institute, the launch of Phare Creative Studio, a social enterprise supporting the Phare Ponleu Selpak artist community through job creations and artistic projects in animation, graphic design, illustration, video and sound. The launch will include an exhibition, live painting and a concert. From 6 pm.
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This month’s readings by the Literati Society of Phnom Penh will be held on Thursday 18 at The Plantation. 7 pm for 7.30 pm start.

On Friday 19, SaSa Bassac at the White Building presents a group exhibition, On Attachments and Unknowns, featuring work by Martha Atienza, Kiri Dalena, Pao Houa Her, Chia-En Jao, Minstrel Kuik, Emily Phyo, Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, Nguyen Trinh Thi, Sutthirat Supaparinya, Anocha Mai Suwichakornpong, Neak Sophal, Erika Tan and Yee I-Lann. The exhibition will run until 19 August, and include other events, including a film screening and discussion on Monday 22 – see below. 6 pm start.
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On Friday 19 from 9 pm at Meta House, electronic-based band Electric Universe is augmented by readings from poets Choun Sopheap and John Gartland.
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On Sunday 21 Khmer Architecture Tours presents Four religions of Phnom Penh. 8.30 am start, reservations essential.
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Monday 22, Sa Sa Bassac and Anti-Archive present Dreaming And Driving, a screening of films by Taipei-based artist Chia-En Jao (Taxi)and Phnom Penh-based filmmaker Davy Chou (Cambodia 2099), and a discussion that will include curator Erin Gleeson, as part of Sa Sa Bassac’s group exhibition On Attachments and Unknowns. 6.30 start.
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Coming soon:

• At Meta House from 30 May, Deep in the wood (the eyes of the forest) by Bor Hak and Hour Seyha, artists who live and work in Battambang as part of the Romcheik 5 collective. Ten scenes juxtapose hand-carved wooden sculptures with large acrylic and enamel compositions.
• Spoken World #9 at The L Bar

For a more rock’n’roll musical flavour of Phnom Penh, make sure you follow weekly gig guide LengPleng.com as well.

Fabian Hipp

Kumnooh
fabianhipp@kumnooh.com

If you are a venue or artist and would like to receive a weekly reminder to provide Kumnooh with an upcoming event or activity, please contact fabianhipp@kumnooh.com and ask to be added to the venue/artists list.

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In brief: new and returning…

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Wednesday 17, 5.30 pm, Cambodian Living Arts presents an artist talk by Vietnamese artist Tran Luong, Politics of Art Spaces/The Guerrilla Shows.
More info

Wednesday 17, 6 pm at Meta House, the opening of a photographic exhibition by Svenja Burgwinkel, featuring drag queens from Phnom Penh’s famous Blue Chilli bar, as part of LGTBi Pride week.
More info

Wednesday 17, 6.30 pm at the Lotus Pond Gallery at The Plantation, the opening of the exhibition Panta Rei by visual artist Karen Hartmann, based upon the famous aphorism from Greek philosopher Heraclitus.
More info

Wednesday 17, 6.30 pm at Bophana Centre a new media exhibition as part of month-long American Arts Incubator workshops and community projects to support environmental health challenges.
More info

Thursday 18, 6 pm at the French Institute, the launch of Phare Creative Studio, a social enterprise supporting the Phare Ponleu Selpak artist community through job creations and artistic projects, to include an exhibition, live painting and a concert.
More info

Thursday 18, 7 pm at The Plantation, this month’s readings by the Literati Society of Phnom Penh.

Friday 19, 6 pm, SaSa Bassac presents the opening of a group exhibition, On Attachments and Unknowns, featuring work by Martha Atienza, Kiri Dalena, Pao Houa Her, Chia-En Jao, Minstrel Kuik, Emily Phyo, Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, Nguyen Trinh Thi, Sutthirat Supaparinya, Anocha Mai Suwichakornpong, Neak Sophal, Erika Tan and Yee I-Lann.
More info

Friday 19, 9 pm at Meta House, electronic-based band Electric Universe is augmented by readings from poets Choun Sopheap and John Gartland.
More info

Sunday 21, 8.30 am, Khmer Architecture Tours presents Four religions of Phnom Penh. Reservations essential.
More info

Monday 22, 6.30 pm, Sa Sa Bassac and Anti-Archive present Dreaming And Driving, a screening of films by Taipei-based artist Chia-En Jao (Taxi)and Phnom Penh-based filmmaker Davy Chou (Cambodia 2099), with Q&A
More info

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Ongoing….

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Every Tuesday and Thursday at 6.30 pm, Bophana Center presents Cine Soiree, an evening of film and discussion. Programme changes every week, across a wide range of cinema experiences.
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Every third Wednesday, 7.30 pm at The Harbour in Siem Reap, the Spoken Arts night invites writers and readers to share.
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Every Saturday morning at 10 am Coin Café presents free apsara dance classes for children.
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The Phnom Penh Writers Workshop holds events every second Sunday afternoon for Phnom Penh writers who are interested in discussion and critique of their works in progress. If you would like to be involved, please contact Claire (clairemarchantcollier [ @ ] gmail.com or John john.christopher.brown [ @ ] gmail.com.

Java Independence presents Flower, new works by Neak Sophal. “Flower, in a subtle way, challenges the well-established notions of feminine identity in Cambodian society.” Until June 25.
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At Romchiek 5 in Battambang, Deep in the wood (the eyes of the forest) by Bor Hak and Hour Seyha, artists who live and work in Battambang as part of the Romcheik 5 collective. Ten scenes juxtapose hand-carved wooden sculptures with large acrylic and enamel compositions. Until 29 May.
More info

At Footprint Cafe, Siem Reap, Cambodia reawakening: a year after the Khmer Rouge, a photo exhibition by US author and former journalist John Burgess in collaboration with education NGO Anjali House. Cambodian teenagers react – with poems, stories or personal reflections – to photographs of their country in 1980. Until May 17.

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At the French Institute, the opening of Architectures et paysages (Architectures and Landscapes) by Christian Milovanoff, former teacher at Ecole de la photographie d’Arles, and Studio Images. “He is one of the greatest French photographers of today. With the Studio Images students, he will attempt, in Siem Reap, an original and unexpected approach of the city.” Until June 3.

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Meta House hosts a street art exhibition by Alias 2.0, a French artist based in Phnom Penh since 2016. “He has eagerly committed himself to examining new ways of composing abstract graffiti and calligraphic ways of expression.”
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At the National Museum, reBIRTH reVITALISE reGENERATION, an exhibition by an informal collective of Cambodian contemporary artists to illustrate what a National Art Gallery might look like.   Featuring work by Chan Vitharin, Chhan Dina, Chuop Sopheak, Chhim Sothy, Em Riem, Heng Monyphal, Leang Seckon, Nou Sary, Ouk Chimvichet, Ouk Socheathy, Prom Vichet, Sam Sophonn, Sous Sodavy, Soeung Vannara, and Tith Veasna.
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The Asia Foundation Community Art Gallery (St 242) presents Waterworks, an installation by Phe Sophon. “Sophon fuses plastic water bottles together into larger than life water drops, elliptical shapes and flowing vessels echoing argyle-esque motifs awoken from Khmer script.”
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Performing arts courses at Brighton International School (#79 street 310) for ages 4 – 6 and 7 – 11 – singing, dancing, acting, every Saturday.
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The Governor’s House Boutique Hotel (3 Mao Tse Tung Blvd, 100 m from Norodom Blvd) and Little Hearts International present a twofold exhibition by street photographer Vincent de Wilde, Between Salt and Earth and Supervivere, Cambodia Today.
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Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra hosts Wonders of 1929, a collection of vintage photographs of Cambodia, the work of Georges Portal, a French actor and director.
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New Leaf Book Cafe in Siem Reap, has a continuous exhibition for Small Art School, featuring the work of young aspiring Cambodian artists.
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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 1995-2014. Now exhibiting in two McDermott Galleries located at FCC Angkor and Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor.
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The Traditional Dance Show, presented by Cambodian Living Arts, takes place at the National Museum stage. The hour-long performance showcases classical and folk dances from across Cambodia, including the famous Apsara. Every night Monday-Saturday (October-April) and every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (May to September).
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Phare Ponleu Selpak, the famous Cambodian circus school offers nightly performances in Siem Reap and performances on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in 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 pm then circus show at 7 pm.
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DanceWorldCambodia offers classes in adult ballet, yoga and Bollywood style.  For more info contact dance@danceworldcambodia.com