Tag Archives: writing

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Drop Cloth with Nebulous Niang

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Drop Cloth… a few things you might not know about

Nebulous Niang – Singapore’s Biggest Lesbian! She performs her stand-up comedy special, SLOMOSEXUAL, at the Box Office SpeakEasy Theatre this Saturday 21st March 7.30 pm.  Tickets here.

A comedian or an aspect of the comedy that you think is overrated:

The concept that more “punchlines per minute” = better comedy. (Yes, that’s an actual thing that comedians measure!)  It doesn’t hurt to make your jokes punchy, of course, but there’s so much more to enjoyable comedy than a statistic.

A comedian or an aspect of the comedy that you think is underrated: 

The positive influence you can have on someone’s life just by going up on stage and being yourself.   That’s one reason I love performing my comedy hour – yes, it is funny, and the audience has a great time – but more than that, it opens people’s minds to perspectives they may not have been closed off to otherwise.  I love that I get to go on stage and be a literal walking, talking embodiment of “Singapore’s Biggest Lesbian”. People often say to me after the show that my show helped them feel less alone.

An early comedy memory: 

Watching blurry clips of Margaret Cho online and being absolutely enchanted by her. It blew my mind that someone who looked like that – like me – could be saying such outrageous things. Before Margaret Cho, I didn’t know that Asians were “allowed” to do comedy!

The last thing you had to eat:

A green smoothie (yeah, I know).

Where did you study? 

I was a Good Singaporean Citizen and did very well in the local education system. I also got to study on the west and east coasts of the USA for my bachelor and master’s degrees – I’ve always held a deep fascination with American culture and so many of my closest friends are American.

When did you first come to Cambodia? 

This will be my very first time in Cambodia! Show me around? 🙂

A book or movie you keep going back to: 

I’ve watched Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion at least twenty times over the years. It’s charming, uncomplicated, genuinely funny, and so very 90s. (Also, I’ve always had the biggest crush on Lisa Kudrow.)

What languages do you speak? 

English, Mandarin Chinese, and some very suspect Duolingo-grade French.

A country that you would like to visit: 

Ooh! Greece – specifically, one of those desolated isles from a Murakami novel where the women inexplicably disappear into another dimension after sleeping with each other. Santorini would be a good bet. Or maybe Lesbos…?

Something people might be surprised to know about you:

I’m a huge introvert! People think that stand-up comedians must be outgoing, but off-stage, most of us are soft-spoken, sensitive, and (more often than not) socially awkward. We’re the ones standing alone in the corner of the party, holding our drinks, eyeing the hot people.

A question from the last participant: What in life gets you the most excited??  

When a supermarket voucher allows me to walk away with a full bag of groceries for 20 cents. (I am, at the end of the day, a Chinese auntie.)

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Kumnooh: Cambodia arts for week commencing 18 March 2025

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Greetings:

Event listings:

It’s a big week in Cambodian Golden Era revival in Phnom Penh with a visit from California-based band Dengue Fever coinciding with the seventh anniversary of the passing of Kak Channthy of the Cambodian Space Project and Channthy Cha Cha. 

Tonight, Tuesday 18, 7.30 pm at Meta House there will be a screening of Sleepwalking through the Mekong, a film about Dengue Fever’s first tour of Cambodia in 2005, with a Q&A with band members to follow.  Then on Thursday 20 at FT Gallery hosts a pop-up exhibition, Shadow Boxing, with works by band members Zac Holtzman and Senon Williams, from 5 pm.  All of this ahead of their concert at Chew & Bash on Friday with Japan Guitar Shop. 
More info for Tuesday More info for Thursday More info for Friday

Thursday 20 at Sra’Art sees the opening of Channthy Fever, an exhibition of photographs of Kak Channthy dating from the period 2014 to 2018.  “Channthy’s unique fusion of traditional Cambodian sounds with Western rock influences made her a trailblazer in the music world, captivating global audiences and leaving an everlasting mark on the Cambodian music scene. Through this exhibition, we celebrate her contribution to music and culture, while also supporting her son, Makara, with 100% proceeds from photo sales going directly to his future opportunities.”  The event will include a live music performance featuring Cove Aaronoff, Summer Lee Carlson and Smack the Unicorn.   From 6 pm, until April 3. 
More info

On Friday 21 at Tacos Kokopelli a similar event of art inspired by Kak Channthy, featuring photography, music, and paintings by David Roberts.  “A musical journey that took them from a first gig at the Alley Cat Cafe, now Tacos Kokopelli, on to tour Asia, Europe, America, and Australia in between bouts of touring the Kingdom, and collaborating with artists near and far.”  From 7 pm, until April 3. 
More info

Wednesday 19, Comedy in Cambodia presents Stand-Up Unscripted at Speak Easy Theater/The Box Office.  From 7.30 pm. 
More info

French poet and slameur, Arthur Ribo, is in Cambodia for a series of shows – Thursday 20 at the French Institute in Phnom Penh, Friday 21 at Alliance francaise in Siem Reap and Tuesday 25 in at Phare Ponleu Selpak in Battambang.   Note: French language events. 
More info

All day on Friday 21 Java Café Tuol Tom Pong is celebrating World Poetry Day with a Pay With A Poem offer for coffee in exchange for an original piece – “Coffee and poetry have one thing in common: they slow you down just enough to notice the world.” 
More info

On the afternoon of Saturday 22, Craft is similarly celebrating World Poetry Day – with a range of readings and poetry performances.  The festivities open at 3.30 pm with the launch of Scott Bywater’s later work, The man I never met, and will continue into the evening with such readers as Fatima Shehata, Frisco Tony, Marianna Hensley, Kenzie David, Initial G and Kosal Khiev.  Followed from 6 pm by music from Hugo St Leger and Electric Muxu Orchestra. 
More info

Opening on Saturday 22 and running through to the following Saturday 29 is the Cambodian International Film Festival at cinema venues around Phnom Penh.  Find the full programme here. 

Saturday 22 from 5 pm, No Frame Party offer a workshop on painting old vinyl records at The Deck.  Later in the month, on March 29, they will present an workshop at Ministry of Cat – the topic of course is cat painting.  From 3 pm. 

On March 29, Lo-Key Theater present Lo-Stakes #11, Everyone Loves a Love Story, a night of three one act plays:  Someone New, Overrated Sex and A Marriage Proposal.  At Speak Easy Theater/The Box Office, two shows only – 6 pm and 8 pm.  $10 entry. 
More info

Phsar Art is collaborating with the Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair 2025, to be held in early May, to showcase Cambodian artists on an international stage.  “This special exhibition will feature up to 10 selected artists as part of a larger ASEAN showcase, celebrating the diverse and dynamic illustration scene in Cambodia.  We’re looking for Cambodian illustrators, artists, and designers aged 35 and under […] two selected artists will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Kuala Lumpur, including flights, accommodation, a per diem, and an exclusive artistic tour.   Deadline to apply: 31 March 2025. No fee or production cost is required from artists.  Apply now — https://shorturl.at/izpJ7
More info

Creative Generation has taken over the black box theater at Java Café Tuol Tom Pong, and are offering free access for artists, students and creative professionals – make your proposals for free use of this space through February, March and April.  The space is appropriate for group or solo productions, rehearsals, filming, lectures, workshops and experimentation of all kinds.  More details here.

Ongoing….

Exhibitions:  

The Gallerist
Rolling exhibitions of mostly Cambodian artists.  Currently on display is work by Theam Lim. 
More info

Kep ArtBar (Kep)
An exhibition of new and retrospective works by Mary Volm.  Until 30 March.

Meta House
Dream Bound, by Sheery D’Ancona – performance, installation and fine art exhibition.  “An immersive art exhibition where natural form and materials meet the realm of dreams and fantasy. Experience the creative journey of a diverse, multi-medium artist and dancer whose passion for art transforms visions.”  Media:  Kiripost
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.
More info

National Museum of Cambodia
Golden Earth, an exhibition by Leang Seckon.  Media:  Le Petit Journal
More info

Plantation
Shades and Reflection, an exhibition by Chhim Sothy.  Until 31 March.  
More info

Raffles Le Royal
In collaboration with The Gallerist: Together, an exhibition by artist Nou Sary.  “Nou Sary’s artwork captures the beauty of Cambodia with vivid greens, blues, yellows, and terracotta hues, reflecting the lush forests, rice fields, water, and earth. His unique bird’s eye perspective challenges you to see the world through a new lens, sparking creativity and fresh interpretations.”  
More Info

Romchiek 5 Art Space
Battambang contemporary art studio.  Rolling exhibitions.  

Silapak Trotchaek Pneik / YK Art House
Postcards from Home, an exhibition curated by Andrea Fam and initiated by Yean Reaksmey.  Until March 31. 
More info

Space Four Zero
Prints, paintings, vintage posters, pop art, CDs and vinyl.  Open daily. 
More info

Sra’Art
Opening Thursday 20 is Channthy Fever, an exhibition of photographs of Kak Channthy dating from the period 2014 to 2018.  “Channthy’s unique fusion of traditional Cambodian sounds with Western rock influences made her a trailblazer in the music world, captivating global audiences and leaving an everlasting mark on the Cambodian music scene. Through this exhibition, we celebrate her contribution to music and culture, while also supporting her son, Makara, with 100% proceeds from photo sales going directly to his future opportunities.”  Until April 3. 
More info

Tribe Cambodia (Siem Reap)
Reopened in their new location, 655 Hup Guan Street.   Media:  Kiripost
More info

Regular events, classes, sessions:

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.

N o w h e r e Art Studio
A range of arts and crafts workshops mostly on weekends. 

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