Greetings:
Newly published is A Remarkable Collection of Angels, by Kampot-based writer David S Wills, a history of the 6 Gallery Reading in San Francisco in October 1955, where Allen Ginsberg gave the first public reading of Howl. You can purchase it on Amazon or Bookshop online, or at BOOKISH – TheBookstore (both the Kampot and Siem Reap branches).
Drop Cloth … a few things you might not know about David S. Wills
An artist or an aspect of the arts that you think is overrated
I try not to think about such things and just ignore those who are overrated, but I suppose most of those who create within defined genres typically fall into this category. Pop stars come to mind, of course. Writers who simply churn out genre fiction as the same.
An artist or an aspect of the arts that you think is underrated
In the world of writing, there are so many underrated people. A few who come to mind are Richard Brautigan and Bob Kaufman. Certain people capture the spirit of the times, do something wildly original, and then for some reason are just forgotten.
An early art memory
Writing stories in a big A4 notebook with a photo of a tiger on the front. I don’t remember the stories but I remember the compulsion to write.
The last thing you had to eat
Pizza at Martini in Kep.
How did you get your start in writing?
I write non-fiction, so there is a sort of glimmer of an idea, then some preliminary research, then there’s a loose plan, and then there’s a vast, vast amount of research. For a book it is several years. For an essay, it is 1-6 months. I read everything written about this topic, then dig into the archives for everything overlooked. I keep making notes until there is nothing knew to write. (For my last book, one quarter million words of notes.) At a certain point comes the itch to write. You hold it off and push it down. You resist and resist. Eventually, you let go and the book comes out of its own accord. There is no holding it back. The subconscious has already processed everything. Just trust it and let the words go.
When did you first come to / first leave Cambodia?
I came on holiday in 2010 and loved it. I came back to live in 2013-14 to run a business. Those were tough times, so I left. I came back the day before the COVID closures in 2020 to write a book, and I’ve been here ever since. There is no better place to live if you have a book to write.
A book or movie you keep going back to
I re-read The Great Gatsby once a year. It is the greatest novel ever written and nothing else comes close. I re-read On the Road about every two years and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas about the same. They fall slightly short of Fitzgerald, but that’s like competing with God.
What languages do you speak?
I could speak French when I was young but I don’t think I could now, though I can understand French films to some degree. Now, I only speak Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. Oh yeah, and a bit of English.
A country that you would like to visit
Mexico.
Something people might be surprised to know about you
I once had breakfast with Werner Herzog on a volcano in North Korea.
A question from the last participant: what is your creative process?
Well, I’m not a hugely creative person because I mostly write non-fiction. I get creative ideas and then just abandon them in favour of the next essay or non-fiction book. In any case, my process is to relentlessly study something—I mean to a truly horrifying degree of pure obsession, knowing something more than any reasonable man could know. When I wrote my book on Hunter Thompson, I knew all the order of punctuation marks in his books and the number of syllables per sentence. You could give me any quote from any book and I could tell you the page number and line number. That’s not very creative, but it’s how I write. When I do write, I sit down from 6am to 6pm, then I do that each day until the job is done. Sometimes it takes a few years. I might take one or two days off during that time.
Event listings:
Wednesday 8 at The Box Office, Comedy in Cambodia presents the improvised show Stand-up Unscripted at 7.30 pm.
More info
On Thursday 9 at Sra’ArtEmily Marques will conduct an artist talk with live painting in conjunction with her current exhibition Nature’s Palette. “Explore nature’s rhythms of death, rebirth, chaos, and renewal through vibrant paintings that reflect resilience and harmony.” From 7 pm.
Saturday 11, LOLA Music Lounge presents Angkor Comedy Night featuring Princella Anum, Fatima Sehata, Epaul, Seyhassneth and Malou. From 8 pm. $7.50 on the door with a free drink.
More info
Coming soon on October 14 to Meta House is Nature of Women, an exhibition by emerging Cambodian artists Billy S and Fia Ry, with contributions from Reaksa Bung (painting), Sao Sopheak (video), Yon Davy (dance), and Chan Vimean (text).
More info
Coming to The Box Office on October 23 – 25 is The Sins of the Father, a theatrical piece written and performed by Cat Isaacs. Tickets $10.50.
Angkor Photo Festival invites photographers from Asia aged 21+ to submit their applications for the next Angkor Photo Workshops. The 21st Edition of the workshops will be held in Siem Reap from 30 January to 8 February 2026 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
More info
Ongoing….
Exhibitions:
The Gallerist
Rolling exhibitions of mostly Cambodian artists. Currently on display is work by Luna Kol.
More info
Meta House
Saving Cham Culture, a multi-media group exhibition about Cambodian Muslims. “a unique collaboration between Cham artists, scholars and researchers, Cambodian filmmaker Sao Sopheak, US photographer Steve Porte, and the Meta House filmmakers David Brown (Australia) and Nico Mesterharm (Germany). We’ll exhibit photography, paintings, traditional silk and a selection of videos.”
More info
MiMü
Mini-Museum of Contemporary Art at Meta House features research, knowledge sharing, workshops, and visual presentations through various media, showcasing videos, prints, installations, and fine arts through interactive events and live performances. Currently on display are paintings by Svay Ken. “Svay Ken’s paintings illustrate scenes from everyday life in Cambodia that are often charged with the presence of unsettling forces beyond the picture frame.”
More info
Plantation
Human Canvas: Portraits of Identity, a solo photography exhibition by Joaquin Barata. Exhibition runs until October 19.
More info
Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor (Siem Reap)
Harmony, a show by Morn Chear and Nak Noy with TRIBE Cambodia curated by Nat Di-Maggio.
More info
The River Gallery (Siem Reap)
Exhibition by Colors of Cambodia Collective featuring Hour Soben, Thy Channarak,
Sorm Narath, Loun Lon, Sophany Sor, Sophanin Sor, Bill Gentry, Son Kosal, Set Soeng
and Julia Haw.
More info
Romchiek 5 Art Space
Battambang contemporary art studio. Rolling exhibitions. Media: Le Petit Journal (FR)(June 2025)
Space Four Zero
Art gallery and vinyl lounge featuring prints, paintings, vintage posters, pop art, books, CDs and rare vinyl, collectables and groovy gifts. Open daily at new premises at #25 Street 240 near Street 19 (by The Shop and Red Apron)
More info
Sra’Art
Nature’s Palette, a contemporary art exhibition by Emily Marques. “Explore nature’s rhythms of death, rebirth, chaos, and renewal through vibrant paintings that reflect resilience and harmony.” Thursday 9 Emily will present an artist talk and do some live painting.
Tribe Cambodia (Siem Reap)
Reopened in their new location, 655 Hup Guan Street. Media: Kiripost
More info
Regular events, classes, sessions:
N o w h e r e Art Studio (relocated to Maloop) occasional workshops.
More info
No Frame Party hosts weekend art workshops in a variety of forms at venues around Phnom Penh.
Life Drawing Phnom Penh – Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.30pm, at Station 350.
More Flamingos present art workshops on Tuesday evenings from 6.30 pm at WILD.
More info
Thursdays to Sundays at K’Atelier – art classes for all levels of experience.
More info
Traditional shadow art performance by Sovanna Phum Arts, every Friday from 5 pm at The Box Office/Speakeasy Theatre.
A weekly class in life drawing for kids with Anastasia at Pteah Chas Community.
More info
Khmer Architecture Tours conducts Sunday architecture tours in Phnom Penh to promote the understanding of modern architecture in Cambodia, focusing on buildings erected after independence in 1953, described as ‘New Khmer Architecture’, while setting these in the historical context of Phnom Penh. Here is the schedule for January – June 2025.
Kumnooh was established in May 2013 as a sister publication to LengPleng.com, the online music magazine for Cambodia, to provide basically a gig guide for the wider arts, covering art galleries, literature, dance, cinema, photography and now comedy.
Perhaps you would consider becoming a Friend of Kumnooh, where we ask venues, artists and/or individuals to show their support by making a small monetary contribution (12 months for $75, six months for $40 or three months for $25) to keep the lights on and to increase our coverage with articles and mini-profiles. In return you receive a boost in promotion, including a non-Facebook web page on our site for direct contact with the dedicated arts audience. Queries by return email – fabianhipp@kumnooh.com.
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.
Send a ‘subscribe’ email to fabianhipp@kumnooh.com to receive Kumnooh in your inbox every Tuesday lunchtime.
Are we missing something? Let us know at fabianhipp@kumnooh.com.
See you about…
Fabian Hipp
Kumnooh
fabianhipp@kumnooh.com
Department of Mutual Support: Friends of LengPleng (and Kumnooh too)
Crossing over from our sister site LengPleng are supporters YK Art House and Space Four Zero. For less than 6,000 riel a week you too could have your venue/business promoted deep into the arts audience; or you might just like to support the work being done by these two entities who trawl Facebook so you don’t have to. For more information: fabianhipp@kumnooh.com / gigs@lengpleng.com, or bail up Scoddy wherever you see him.
Kumnooh 