Greetings:
At Meta House on Wednesday 18, The Beauty and the Beat: Modern Dance in Cambodia, film screenings and presentation by Cambodian dancer Belle (Chumvan Sodhachivy), about the infusion of the traditional forms of dance with modern ideas. Documentary maker Sao Sopheak will present her dance video The Green Net, featuring dancer Yon Davy. From 7 pm.
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The next meeting of the Phnom Penh Literati Society will be held on Wednesday 18 from 7 pm at Villa Grange, St 244, with a wide variety of readings.
Phnom Penh Players are holding auditions for their annual Christmas pantomime this week, Thursday 19 at 6 pm, Saturday 21 at 2 pm and Sunday 22 at 4 pm at The Box Office. This year it’s Cinderella.
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At the French Institute on Thursday 19, from 6.30 pm, the opening of Aboard a Khmer touk, an exhibition of drawings by illustrator and traveller Guillaume Reynard.
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On Friday 20, 6 pm at Sa Sa Art Projects, the opening of Ricefield Mirages, a solo exhibition by Chea Sereyroth. “The role of rice is fundamental to Cambodian culture. From time immemorial, seasonal demands of its cultivation have dominated peoples’ lives, yet nurtured souls. With the perspective of a child brought up in the country tilling rice, before having to leave for studying and working in the city, the artist offers eight artworks.” Until November 27.
On Saturday 21 at the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center, a launch party for Cambodian Living Arts’ Arts4peace Festival. “A celebration of Cambodia’s arts and culture, the value this brings to the country, and the many people behind the last four decades of artistic regeneration. Music and entertainment by The Khmer Magic Music Bus, and other surprises.”
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Monday 23 at Sa Sa Art Projects, a book launch for Ti Prasap, a catalogue of art collector Larry Strange’s collection of Cambodian contemporary art. “Larry has been collecting works by Cambodian artists since the early 2000s.” 6 pm start.
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Also Monday 23, from 7.30 pm, Drink and Draw at Cloud – $4 for two hours with a life model in multiple poses.
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Coming soon:
- At The Plantation, Travel Green, Travel Local, an exhibition of creative writing and photography focusing on the theme of sustainable tourism. “The exhibition will showcase the best photography and creative writing artwork submitted by both members of the public and professionals as part of the annual Sustainable Tourism Creative Writing and Photography Competition.” September 25.
For a more rock’n’roll view of Phnom Penh and the wider Cambodian music scene, please check out our sister publication lengpleng.com, the long running live music gig guide.
Note: we are now accepting donations for the on-going work of Kumnooh, which can be made either via payment to fabianhipp@kumnooh.com at Paypal, or alternatively in cash which can be arranged by emailing to the same address. Your small contributions will help continue our free and advertising free service into the great, wide future of contemporary arts in Cambodia.
Are we missing something? Let us know at fabianhipp@kumnooh.com.
See you about…
Fabian Hipp
Kumnooh
fabianhipp@kumnooh.com
In brief: new and returning…
Wednesday 18, 7 pm at Meta House, The Beauty and the Beat: Modern Dance in Cambodia, film screenings and presentation by Cambodian dancer Belle (Chumvan Sodhachivy). Documentary maker Sao Sopheak will present her dance video The Green Net, featuring dancer Yon Davy.
More info
Wednesday 18, 7 pm at Villa Grange, St 244, the next meeting of the Phnom Penh Literati Society.
Thursday 19, 6 pm, Phnom Penh Players auditions for their annual Christmas pantomime Cinderella at The Box Office.
More info
Thursday 19, 6.30 pm at the French Institute, the opening of Aboard a Khmer touk, an exhibition of drawings by illustrator and traveller Guillaume Reynard.
More info
Friday 20, 6 pm at Sa Sa Art Projects, the opening of Ricefield Mirages, a solo exhibition by Chea Sereyroth.
Saturday 21, 2 pm, Phnom Penh Players auditions for their annual Christmas pantomime Cinderella at The Box Office.
More info
Saturday 21, 6.30 pm at the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center, a launch party for Cambodian Living Arts’ Arts4peace Festival.
More info
Sunday 22, 4 pm, Phnom Penh Players auditions for their annual Christmas pantomime Cinderella at The Box Office.
More info
Monday 23, 6 pm at Sa Sa Art Projects, a book launch for Ti Prasap, a catalogue of art collector Larry Strange’s collection of Cambodian contemporary art.
More info
Monday 23, from 7.30 pm, Drink and Draw at Cloud – $4 for two hours with a life model in multiple poses.
More info
Ongoing…. exhibitions, dance performances and others
Exhibitions:
At Meta House, Passing on Being Passive, an exhibition by Chan Pisey, Choun Sopheap, Steve Porte and other Cambodian artists and photographers. “A new generation of women living in Cambodia today has struggles for gender equality and to overcome stereotypes.”
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At Bophana Center, She’s Dressing Up, an exhibition by artist Chan Sophorn and costume designer Sambath Udom. “She’s Dressing Up wants to describe the beauty of women and jewelries, with a mix of art, such as clothing, and paintings. The exhibition also wants to showcase the creative work of the artists and it is a common message between the artists to come together regardless their different skills.” Until October 5.
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At Cloud, Senses, a mixed media fine art show by Chris Stewart. “Senses is all about exploring how photography can affect all of the senses, not just the visual. Space, touch, emotion, sound and even taste can be explored using photography, which can be enhanced using mixed media. This artistic exploration uses photography as the base, moving into new dimensions. Senses takes what you know about photography and expands it beyond what can simply be seen.”
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At KBach Gallery on Sundays, Selap Art Sunday Sessions promise a succession of art workshops, exhibitions, performance, food and drink. A family friendly event.
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At Mirage Contemporary Art Space in Siem Reap, Her Sounds, a multimedia research project and exhibition by photographer Neak Sophal and ethnomusicologist Emily Howe, “celebrating the passion, persistence, and power of Cambodia’s women artists through image, sound, and story.” Until November 25.
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At the House of Scott (St 228), Open Studio Cambodia presents Lavy Long’s second solo exhibition. “The group of curated watercolor landscapes provide insights into past iterations of his life such as his time as professional Khmer kickboxer and tuk tuk driver.” Until October 17.
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At TRIBE Cambodia in Siem Reap, The Space Between, the debut solo exhibition of linocuts by Morn Chear, presented by Open Studio Cambodia. “Drawn free-hand and then meticulously chiseled, Morn’s images playfully depict everyday scenes from his personal life: his wife washes the laundry by hand, a dog takes a nap in the alley, fish grill on a small barbecue, he rides his motorbike into the distance.”
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At Batia Sarem in Siem Reap, How do I look?, an exhibition of portraits by photographer Sovan Philong “Sovan Philong will show an intense series based on portraits in our gallery in Siem Reap. As in all his works, Philong uses light to renew the portrait genre and therefore the way one can really look at people and reveal their true self.”
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At Java Independence, the exhibition The dead eye and the deep blue sea, featuring artwork from a graphic memoir by Vannak Anan Prum. “The drawings are selected from the book, a graphic novel that tells his incredible story of surviving slavery in the regional fishing and agricultural industries. Vannak is a self-taught artist and his illustrative skills allowed him to gain favor with other people he was forced to live and work with by giving them tattoos. More importantly, thanks to his photographic memory he was able to draw his experiences in detail when he arrived home four years later. At first, he made the drawings to offer proof to his family in the only way he could. Later he decided to share his story publicly, leading to the publication of the graphic novel, further exposing the harsh realities of modern-day slavery.”
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KBach ArtSpace at Factory Phnom Penh, as part of their KBach Arts Competition 2019, are showing finalists in last year’s competition and a judges’ gallery as well as their regular collection.
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At the Kampot Art Gallery, Kampot: The Changing Landscape. “Neak Sophal and Kong Vollak have created a unique exhibition looking at Kampot and the impact of past, present and future.”
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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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Dance:
New Cambodian Artists in Siem Reap present weekly performances of contemporary dance every Saturday.
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Every Thursday and Friday, 6.30 pm at Counterspace Theatre, Java Creative Café Tuol Tom Pong, the dance company Sophiline Arts Ensemble presents performances of Cambodian dance. “Featuring a stellar cast dressed in fanciful costumes, The Lives of Giants is a contemporary meditation on bullying, cycles of violence, and the responsibilities of wielding power.” Tickets $18.
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Saturdays and Sundays, 6.30 pm at Counterspace Theatre, Java Creative Café Tuol Tom Pong, Prumsodun Ok and NATYARASA present performances of Vajramala – Spirit of Khmer Dance. Tickets $25.
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Dance Academy Cambodia has a wide range of dance classes through the week at Urban Tower, 5th Floor, #20 Street 51 (opposite Blue Dog, near The Place).
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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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Other:
The Kok Thlok arts organisation is presenting twice weekly shadow puppet and Khmer theatre performances at the National Library, St 61, every Friday and Sunday at 6.30 pm. Kok Thlok are offering a membership card, with an annual fee of $30, that provides unlimited access (including for family members or two friends) to the rolling programme planned over the next four years to present the 24 forms of traditional theatre.
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N o w h e r e Gallery presents frequent workshops such as Self Portrait Acrylic on Canvas, Bookbinding for beginners and Brush lettering for beginners. Bookings always essential, spaces limited. Mostly Saturdays and Sundays although occasionally midweek.
The theatrical group the Francophone Troupe of Phnom Penh is holding a theatre workshops at 6.30 pm every Wednesday at Restaurant 63 Bassac, on St 308. Sessions are in French but perfect French is not required. $10/session (2 hours).
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Every Saturday at 5 pm, Bophana Center presents Cine Saturday. Programme changes every week, across a wide range of cinema experiences.
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Most Sundays (and occasionally Saturdays) Khmer Architecture Tours presents a range of the architectural wonders of Phnom Penh. 8.30 am start, reservations essential.
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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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Art programmes for children from three years old and up is now underway at Ocarina School led by a certified art teacher, Océane. “Ocarina is the first and only French-speaking activities center offering French standard after-school music and art curriculums for children from 6 months to 17 years old.”
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A weekly gathering on Thursday night at Number 26 Art Shop Gallery on St 118, just off the riverside, 7 pm – 10 pm, with monthly changes of exhibitions, a place to exchange ideas.
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