Or as they say here: ‘suos sdey chnam thmey’…
Here are a few photographs of Khmer New Year celebrations over the years…
And here is a set I did last year on Bokor Mountain…
This happens twice a year, at Pchum Benh and for Khmer New Year: Phnom Penh comes to a standstill as it little by little empties itself from its inhabitants who join their families at their birthplace for the celebrations (see also here)… Needless to say that these population movements contribute generously to the already apalling number of traffic related deaths in the ‘Kingdom of Wonder’. As for me, I’ll be giving the credit cards a rubbing in Singapore…
On May 17th, 19 photographs from the ‘Better Factories’ story (see here) will be exhibited, printed on 2,2 x 4 meters canvases, on the walls of the French Embassy in Phnom Penh to mark the 20th anniversary of AFD’s (Agence Française de Développement) presence in Cambodia. An e-book, called ‘A Fine Thread’, might be released soon after.
The first test is too blue…
CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 11/04/2013: First test of 220x400cm prints at Mountain Advertising for the May 17th exhibition on the wall of the French Embassy to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the AFD (Agence Française de Développement). Too much blue.
Other performances not to be missed in the series of events and exhibitions of ‘Season of Cambodia‘ brought to New York by ‘Cambodian Living Arts’ are the master class and the concert given by Kong Nay playing the chapey and singing Khmer poems with a raspy voice. At times it is as if the Mississipi river was flowing in the Mekong.
Kong Nay, like many other Cambodian artists, was living in Dey Krohom. He was evicted from his house in January 2009, just a few days before the violent crackdown on the remaining residents of the community took place (see here).
New Yorkers please take note: April 28th, 29th and 30th, the Guggenheim will host 3 performances of ‘Khmeropédies III‘, a choreography by Emmanuèle Phuon brought to you by Amrita Performing Arts. It will be among the latest events of ‘Seasons of Cambodia’, organised by ‘Cambodian Living Arts’ which has brought a whole series of performances and exhibitions to New York by Cambodian artists to point out some (not all) of the creative forces that are brewing in Phnom Penh. You can see the progam here.
I was privileged to be able to photograph the rehearsals of ‘Khmeropédies III’ back in Phnom Penh. You can see the photographs here.
Was it the 40°C heat from the last days? I’m staying too many hours hidden in the shadow, in front of the computer, preparing things and travels (travels? yes travels… stay tuned…), and enjoyed the STRONG breeze in Kep.
The series is ongoing. So is the development on Koh Pich Island where many families were evicted from… See here for more…
Today Cambodia is so much more than the Khmer Rouge and mine victims. But still… The mines and UXO are still around (and so are a few Khmer Rouge by the way). April 4th is mine awareness day. In certain areas of the country awareness is mandatory every day. Here are a few pictures (more pictures here) from a story on UXO I did for ‘Handicap International’ a little while ago…
