Immerse: Contemporary Art Class Graduate Exhibition

by Chhun Kimly, Khiev Kanel, Kong Dara, Kong Siden, Lok Chanmakara, Mok Sombo, Prak Dalin, (Kwan) So Sothsovankong and Sou Sophy

Exhibition opening: Wed 19 Dec 2018, 6-8 pm

Exhibition period: 19 Dec 2018 – 3 Jan 2019

This exhibition is supported by Rei Foundation

Immerse presents new works by nine artists who recently graduated from Sa Sa Art Projects’ Contemporary Art Class 2018. The exhibition is a culmination of a six-month program through which the participants immersed themselves in classroom lectures and discussions, site and studio visits, and development of new works. Coming from diverse educational backgrounds and professional fields, the nine participants produce new works employing various media from photography and video to sculpture, to installation and calligraffiti. They explore and question a range of topics including environment, history, power structure and social hierarchy, gender and religion, social injustice, and forms of control in contemporary societies. Occupying the whole space of Sa Sa Art Projects from front to back, the works presented in the exhibition are both provoking and inviting.

Contemporary Art Class is part of Sa Sa Art Projects’ education program aiming to support young artists in developing their emerging artistic practices and building critical knowledge. The class involves three-month weekly meetings, followed by another three-month period for participants to develop new bodies of work. In the class, participants discuss different topics of various disciplines such as history, art and cultural history, politics, philosophy, and geography, facilitated by Sa Sa Art Projects’ co-founder Khvay Samnang and a number of invited guest lecturers and speakers. This critical discussion in turn informs and deepens the participants’ artistic practices and research for their new works.

Contemporary Art Class 2018 is supported by Rei Foundation.

Guest lecturers and speakers included Soung Sokro, Sopheap Pich, Vuth Lyno, San Phalla, Loeung Sakona, Duch Kimsan, San Marady, Seng Simouy, Roger Nelson and Caroline Ha Thuc.

Additional support from Mok Rotha.

About the artists

Chhun Kimly (b. 1997 in Phnom Penh) is currently a year four student of Architecture and Urbanism at the Royal University of Fine Arts. She has received Arn Chorn-Pond Living Arts Scholarship since 2016. She also joins the photography workshop at Studio Images, French Institute, 2018. Kimly’s work often deals with history, politics, and social issues. Her group exhibitions include People and Space, Photo Phnom Penh Festival (Intersection) 2018, and Histoires Du reel (2018) both at Phnom Penh’s French Institute.

Khiev Kanel (b. 1988 in Phnom Penh) graduated in Computer Science and Auditing before turning to photography in 2013. He uses photography, moving image and performance to document and tell stories of personal, environmental and social issues. Kanel has participated in a number of workshops with local and international artists on photography, moving images and performance. His work has been exhibited widely in Cambodia and regionally. His recently presented a solo exhibition Staircases (2018) at Java Toul Kork. Kanel is a recipient of Creative Generation Award 2018 from Java and Best Performance Award 2018 (with collaborator Yon Davy) from the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.

Kong Dara (b. 1990 in Prey Veng province) studied art at Sa Sa Art Projects, where he also works as Residency Coordinator. Dara works with various media including drawing, sculpture and installation. Dara’s works investigate memory, emotions, social change, and LGBT+ communities. His has undertaken several artist residencies in Cambodia and regionally. His recent group exhibitions include Queer Forever (2017) at Nhà Sàn Collective, Hanoi, and Poetic Topographies (2016) at SA SA BASSAC.

Kong Siden (b.1997 in Phnom Penh) is currently a year four student of Interior Design at the Royal University of Fine Arts. He joins photography workshop at Studio Images, French Institute, 2018. He is interested in photography. His group exhibitions include Modest and People and Space, Photo Phnom Penh Festival (Intersection) 2018, and Histoires Du reel (2018) both at Phnom Penh’s French Institute.

Lok Chanmakara (b. 1986 in Phnom Penh) holds a Bachelor Degree of Business Management, and currently works as Communications Manager at Samaritan’s Purse. Makara has been exploring photography since 2014. She joined photography workshop at Studio Images, French Institute and Canon Images Academy, both in 2014. She joins advanced class with Studio Images in 2018. Her group exhibitions include Modest and People and Space, Photo Phnom Penh Festival (Intersection) 2018 at Phnom Penh’s French Institute.

Mok Sombo (b.1995 in Phnom Penh) taught young students at the White Building’s AZIZA school and actively participated in and organised community campaigns and events. He joined various art workshops at Sa Sa Art Projects and studied music at Music Art School. Sombo is a year two student of Design at SETEC Institute. His recent group exhibitions and performances include Body of Sorrow (2018) at Sa Sa Art Projects, Kraanh Norneal (2017) at Sa Sa Art Projects, and Forest And River Are Life (2016) at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park.

Prak Dalin (b. 1996 in Kampong Cham province) is a year five student of Architecture and Urbanism at the Royal University of Fine Arts. She is interested in sociology and history. Dalin is interested in nature and materials easily accessible around her. She enjoys experimenting with simple materials in making her artworks, and wants to surprise people with her creativity by making unconventional works.

So Sothsovankong Aka. Kwan (b. 1998 in Banteay Meanchey province) is a first-year student of Design at the Royal University of Fine Arts, and currently works as Gallery Assistant at Sa Sa Art Projects. Kwan is interested in graffiti and street art, and is self-trained in this medium. He constructs and reflection on Khmer ancient script, Sanskrit script, and modern graffiti. Kwan presented his first solo exhibition Light at the End of the Tunnel (2018) at Java ToulKork. His recent group exhibitions include Being No One and Going Nowhere, Festival Tokyo 2018, Tokyo; and People and Space, Photo Phnom Penh Festival (Intersection) 2018, Phnom Penh’s French Institute.

Sou Sophy (b.1988 in Battambang province) graduated from Phare Ponleu Selpak’s School of Visual and Applied Arts, Battambong province in 2010. In 2011, she participated in an art training at Nanath in France. From 2010- 2017, she was a drawing and painting teacher at Battambang University. Sophy has presented her works widely in Cambodia.