Greetings:
The 10th annual Phnom Penh Photo Festival continues at multiple locations, including Bophana Center and Futures Factory. “An important intercultural exchange between European and Asian photographers, Photo Phnom Penh remains the major photography rendez-vous in South-East Asia.”
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Thursday 14, from 2 pm at the French Institute, the opening of three exhibitions as part of the Arts4Peace Festival: Unsung Heroes, an art installation by TAN Vatey, Sinta WIBOWO and TAN Sokharin; Hidden Dancer, a presentation of Cambodian classical dance through archival footage filmed from the 1890s until today; and 25 Cambodian Contemporary Photographers, curated by Christian CAUJOLLE in partnership with PPP 2019. The first two exhibitions will transfer to Chaktomuk Theatre for 21-23 November, while the third will show through until 30 November at Sisowath High School. This is only a small part of the wideranging festival – concerts, dance, opera, discussions and workshops – with events on offer from tomorrow through until 24 November. Also on Thursday 14, the opening night at the Cambodian-Japanese Co-operation Centre: “Three generations of Smot chanters and Chapei players sharing one stage, a touching representation of the journey of transmission, transition and transformation of Cambodia’s arts over the past 40 years. Forbidden Rhythms, performed by Medha, presents the aspirations, experiences and relationships of a group of young Cambodian women, through traditional art forms with a modern twist.”
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For something different, on Friday 15 Cloud hosts sound artist, live performer, composer and DJ L~N, who “performs improvised live sets from vinyl samples, found sounds, acoustic instruments, analog and digital synthesizers. His music oscillates from ambient, abstract textures to melodic noise soundscapes and poly rhythmic beats. All his sets are unique and product of the environment.” From 9 pm.
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This weekend Common Sole presents works in progress at their new home in Java Creative Café’s theatre in Toul Tom Poung. “They welcome the public to join them for a series of open stage events featuring works in progress and exploring the process of performance, dance, and theater developed from their distinct improvisational and experimental methodology. Performances in French and English. Email to reserve seats in advance : imprudanz@gmail.com.
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At Bong Bong Bong on St 240 ½ on Saturday 16, from 7 pm, New Tradition, the first Cambodian exhibition of Bangkok-based illustrator Nut Praditsilp, aka Nutdub.
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In Siem Reap, the new Tribe Art Cambodia gallery at FCC Angkor continues activities to mark its launch – every week Thursdays – Saturdays for the rest of November. From 7 pm.
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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…
The 10th annual Phnom Penh Photo Festival continues at multiple locations, including Bophana Center and Futures Factory.
More info
Thursday 14, from 2 pm at the French Institute, the opening of three exhibitions as part of the Arts4Peace Festival, and from 7 pm, the opening night concert at the Cambodian-Japanese Co-operation Centre.
More info
Friday 15, 9 pm Cloud hosts sound artist, live performer, composer and DJ L~N.
More info
Saturday 16 and Sunday 17, Common Sole presents works in progress at their new home in Java Creative Café’s theater in Toul Tom Poung.
More info
Saturday 16, 7pm at Bong Bong Bong on St 240 ½, New Tradition, the first Cambodian exhibition of Bangkok-based illustrator Nut Praditsilp, aka Nutdub.
More info
Thursdays – Saturdays in November from 7 pm at FCC Angkor in Siem Reap, activities for the launch of the new Tribe Art Cambodia gallery.
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Ongoing…. exhibitions, dance performances and others
Exhibitions:
At Bong the Gallery, Dark Matter, an exhibition featuring works by Douglas Victor, textured and abstract paintings on canvas. “Dark matter, a component of the universe whose presence is discerned from its gravitational attraction rather than its luminosity,and we don’t know its nature yet. Currently many experiments around the world are searching for dark matter and we hope that in the near future we will solve the mystery of dark matter and understand its properties.”
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At House of Scott, Standing Rubble, an exhibition by Rena Chheang in collaboration with Limhay Chhum showcasing Phnom Penh in two contrasting points of view: characteristic colonial buildings and complex futuristic representations.
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At Sa Sa Art Projects, 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.
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 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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Every Monday Dance Flow, an improvisation and partnering workshop led by Eric Ellul at Nataraj Yoga, #52 St. 302. Donation-based sessions, 6.30 – 8.15 pm.
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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