Greetings:
The time has come for a relaunch of Kumnooh, arts guide for Cambodia – originally established in 2013 but dormant since August 2020 – aiming to deliver a weekly guide covering contemporary visual and graphic arts, sculpture, dance, architecture, cinema and some music – for the rock’n’roll and jazz end of the spectrum check out lengpleng.com. It may take a while to get back up to speed, with old art spaces now closed and new ones springing up; please let us know if there are things we are missing, particularly outside Phnom Penh where we are rather thin. Our email service is also now up and running again – send a ‘subscribe’ email to fabianhipp@kumnooh.com to receive Kumnooh in your inbox every Tuesday lunchtime. This is a free service but any donations are welcome to keep the ship afloat. And now on with the listings.
Opening tonight, Tuesday 25, 6 pm at Meta House, is White, an exhibition by Koem Keosocheat. “Through intricate large-format pencil drawing, the artist explores gender roles and gender equality in past and present Cambodia.” Note the new address for Meta House, #48 Street 228.
More info
Wednesday 26, from 6 pm, Pi-Pet-Pi gallery presents The Past is the Road to the Future by Chan Phuon. “For these works are made according to the changing situation of Cambodia. The current rich in all kinds of machines and the development of new machines in the future. Some people who live in the modern world and are obsessed with new technologies, in part, lose their identity, which is rich in art and culture. And those people will have to face a wandering life that does not know who they are.”
More info
Thursday 27, 6 pm at Sra’Art, the weekly Sip & Paint event – materials, drinks and support – $25 for a two hour session.
More info
At the newly opened Ikigai Arts Center offer life drawing sessions on Mondays (no teacher) and Thursdays (with teacher), 6.30 pm.
More info
Regularly on Saturdays at Sra’Art offer classes in art history and techniques: 9 am for children and 11 am for adults.
More info
Also regular on Saturdays mornings at Botanico, presented by Sra’Art, hour-long kids’ art sessions, 10 am and 11 am.
More info
On Saturday 29 at 2 pm, an artist hangout with Monnyreak at Ikigai Arts Center.
More info
Saturday 29 is the 15th anniversary party for Meta House, with a concert by Major/Minor and Geography of the Moon. Doors open at 5 pm, music begins 6 pm.
More info
Also Saturday 29 at 6 pm, Sa Sa Art Projects presents a panel discussion, part of the public programme for the current exhibition Master of Lands and Waters (Mchas Teuk Mchas Dei) by Khvay Samnang, Lim Sokchanlin, and Vuth Lyno. Khmer language event.
More info
Call for artists! N o w h e r e Art Studio requests submissions from artists for a group exhibition, Toch-Toch, at Plantation in March. “As the title implies, the exhibition theme will focus on the size itself — Small. We truly feel small-sized works of art can create a big impression and build an intangible bond between audience and artwork.” Applications close February 1.
Coming soon:
February 4: artist talk at Sra’Art by Rodrigo Garzón. “I am a self-taught visual artist from Mexico City, currently living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. With my paintings, I seek to explore the cyber-nature of human kind: a sort of balance between the digital self and its organic counterpart; trying to find a certain beauty within the erratic coexistence of both realities.”
More info
February 5: Ikigai Arts Center grand opening featuring performances, workshops, activities galore.
More info
February 5 – 13: Friends Futures Factory – Creative Generation – Worlds Unknown. Exhibitions on view 2pm-9pm: Resistance: To Live, Ry Roun; Ambivalence: Macrocosm, Song Seakleng, Untold Story, Mech Choulay, Mindfulness, Kong Siden; Reflection, Vong Chandarey. Full programme can be downloaded here.
More info
February 5 – 27: Shophouse Studio presents The Art of Morn Chear, open Saturdays and Sundays 12 – 6 pm
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.
Are we missing something? Let us know at fabianhipp@kumnooh.com.
See you about…
Fabian Hipp
Kumnooh
fabianhipp@kumnooh.com
Ongoing….
Exhibitions:
Chhan Dina Gallery
Newly opened at #178 St 13, near the National Museum. An on-going display of Chhan Dina’s work from throughout her career will be augmented, on a rolling schedule, with works of contemporary masters such as Chhim Sothy, Leang Seckon and Suos Sodavy. Media: Khmer Nights
More info
Sa Sa Art Projects
Mchas Teuk Mchas Dei (Master of Lands and Waters) by Khvay Samnang, Lim Sokchanlina and Vuth Lyno. A group exhibition by Cambodian arts collective Stiev Selapak. The exhibition introduces their recent works in the form of videos, sculptures, photographs, and light installation, focusing on beliefs in nature and practices in the supernatural, animism, and the powerful spirits that take care of our homes, lands, people, animals, and living beings. Limited number of visitors in the gallery space at a time. Until 31 March.
Cloud
Cambodian astrophotography exhibition by five experienced photographers: Mardy Suong, Sonic Duran, SereyWat, Pheak and Nara.
More info
Silapak Trotchaek Pneik // by YK Art House
Wings of tomorrow by Pen Robit. “This series has its genesis in my lifelong fascination with the concepts of and the correlation between power, military, governmentality and subjectivity.” Media: Sovrin Magazine (Khmer); KleyKley Magazine (Khmer) Until 10 February.
More info
Kumnooh 
