distinct school of design evolving in the north-western town of
Battambang, Cambodian art is increasingly reaching a global market.
Cambodia's home-grown artists are showing in major Asian cities such
as Hong Kong and Singapore. A season of Cambodian art is also planned
for New York in 2013 while auction house Christie's is holding its
first sale in the Kingdom in March.
Central to the buzz that artists are beginning to attract are the
diverse influences that have shaped their lives and work.
"Artists have two obvious wells of inspiration: first, Cambodia's
glorious history of highly detailed and ornamented temples and murals,
and secondly, the naive, emotionally charged, post-Khmer Rouge,
art-by-accessibility," said Matthew Tito Cuenca, who is helping to
organize Christie's charity sale on March 11.
The changes brought by rapid economic growth and development are also
influencing creative minds.
"You are seeing artists responding to socio-political implications
with a great deal of urgency," said Kate O'Hara, manager of Romeet
Gallery in Phnom Penh, who has seen increasing numbers of
international collectors enter the country.
"The energy and motivation of these artists combine the traditional
Cambodian visual linage with new aesthetics to reflect on contemporary
issues that are local, but have global resonance."
One such artist is Hour Seyha whose recent series Waiting for Sunrise
explored his experience of child labour. In his early teens he worked
in Thailand, at times illegally, to support his impoverished family.
He returned to Cambodia alone at 15.
Hour, who is now in his early 20s, lived in an orphanage before
eventually starting art classes at Battambang-based charity Phare
Ponleu Selpak. The organization, which began in 1986 in a refugee
camp, has helped develop a generation of raw talent.
Hour's highly emotive paintings -- in muted yellows, reds and blues --
are full of symbols of his time abroad. Footprints represent wounds;
flip-flops illustrate slavery; red is a symbol of fear. "I want to
explain and make people understand about the issues in society," he
said at a recent public talk.
Fellow Phare Ponleu Selpak alumni Nov Cheanick, whose work is
currently on display at the Four Rising Talents from South-East Asia
exhibition at 10 Chancery Lane Gallery in Hong Kong, is also exploring
the nature of modern society, using images of US President Barack
Obama in his Freedom series.
Christie's auction is to also focus on contemporary artwork with sale
proceeds set to be donated to the non-governmental organization
Cambodian Living Arts. It helps support Cambodian art forms from
traditional dancing to puppetry, many of which were nearly wiped out
under the cultural nihilism of the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to
1979.
With paintings and sculptures from some of Cambodia's best-known
artists up for grabs, auction organizers said international buyers are
finding proxy bidders to snap up lots. Pieces set to be sold include
work by contemporary sculptor Pich Sopheap and mask maker Sam
Chanmonyroth.
In 2011, Christie's saw record sales of Asian art at 890.1 million US
dollars, a 17-per-cent increase on 2010.
Christie's auctioneer Lionel Gosset is to travel to Phnom Penh to hold
the sale. He said he believes that as Cambodia opens up, its "rich
artistic movement" will be seen.
"Young artists are already beginning to be recognized both in Europe
and the United States," he said.
"With quality work, recognition follows," O'Hara said.
PHNOM PENH
Feb 29, 2012
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
via COMTEX
http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7Bd066cdc2-4efe-4b93-b7d4-aaa912f3f45d%7D&src=main
