Statement of Purpose: Empowering Cambodian women visual artists !
selapak neari | Art Studio (SN | AE) is a new and experimental venture dedicated to forging meaningful connections and interactions between art, artists and local communities Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
In 2005, a search for Cambodian artists revealed that there are only a very small proportion of female artists in the country. Out of 20 artists met, only 3 women artists’ names came up: Duong Saree and Long Sophea, both of traditional background, and myself, in contemporary art. There clearly exists a generation gap amongst Cambodian women artists. Before the Khmer Rouge period, women in the art world were trained in developing traditional Cambodian art skills. Nowadays the younger generation are orienting toward contemporary art, yet they have no role model to look up to and who can help empower women as visual artists. There are more and younger female Khmer artists launching themselves in contemporary art without any focus, guidance or support.
There are a number of professional women artists working and living in Cambodia. “Selapak Neari” is a project to create dialogs and exchanges amongst women artists beyond the national identity. Many women artists from all over Asia live and work in Cambodia. The contemporary art scene in Cambodia is similar to other countries, i.e. dominated by male artists. This project serves as an opportunity for women artists to meet, exchange ideas and visions, and to share a diversity of art views through a deeper understanding of their national culture, hence reinforcing their own identity.
In order to enhance bonding and deepen artistic knowledge, artists are encouraged to work in pairs. A non Cambodian artist will have her counterpart Cambodian artist. They may or may not create collaborative art work; by working in pairs it will stimulate creative dialogs within an intimate relationship between artists of the same or different disciplines.
Artists are encouraged to be part of the community: by exchanging information about exhibitions, residencies, and about their artistic productions. By working together, these meetings will break down the artists’ isolation and stimulate creative dialogs amongst them.
The team of Selapak Neari met with Tay Tong from ANA on Friday 24th. We discussed about the art scene and mostly all the events SN is going to put up. As Tay Tong recommended us to also have an artist in residence to support our rent of space…
We found and signed the lease on Monday 27th August. There is a large room for meeting, workshop and work space for artists in residence. We have an office space and a bedroom.
Our next step is to transform the space into an art space. October and November, we have already artists coming. With French graffiti artist Theo Vallier we will decorate the walls with art. This will be a workshop with female art students to discover graffiti art.
The selapak neari girls…
The camaraderie is there from the very beginning. Girls helping each other from the very first meeting. Qudy was looking for models for her next painting and here the selapak neari posing for her. The girls are excited to start the workshops and meet other women artists…
Chet Seila | Hiem Ankannitha |Khchao Touch |Sin Soda |Tith Kanitha |Tith Veasna |Xu Qudy
Meetings
Sunday 9th September
We had our first meeting with the participants of SN project. These eight young artists are the most motivated and committed to art making. The camaraderie was there from the very beginning. They are all excited to start the workshops and meet another women artists working in Cambodia.
Sunday 16th of September: opening artists meeting night
Selapak Neari had their opening center night. They met other artists working in Cambodia. Journalists from Cambodge Soir and RFI interview some of the artists. It is the beginning of acknowledging the presence of women artists at work in Cambodia. The interview on RFI will be on air on Thursday from 7 to 8 am on FM92 and from 9 to 10am on FM 102.
Three others artists want to join the program: TITH Kanitha alias Vicky from RUFA (Royal University of Fine Arts) in design and SIN Soda a graduated from RUFA in painting. The group welcome them with most enthusiasm.
The Stiev Selapak group join in the celebration of the opening of the art space dedicated to Selapak Neari. The atmosphere was about networking, fun and friendly.
The candidates’ works
Chet Seila, young painter from RUFA | 011 515 239
Hiem Ankannitha | alias Tha is a painter and teaches art history at RUFA | 012 723 843
Khchao Touch| alias Little Snail from Phare Ponleu school in Battambang is a young sculptor | 092 845 543
Sin Soda| painter from RUFA |
Tith Kanitha, interior design, studying at RUFA | 016 74 80 90
Tith Veasna, painter from RUFA and is orienting herself toward design | 016 99 39 96
Xu Qudy, Chinese painter lives in Cambodia for almost a decade now | qudyxu@gmail.com
Calendar of workshops
September
Sunday 16th: First artist meeting with all participants and female artists working in Cambodia
Sunday 23rd: First workshop on practical knowledge on self presentation on international standard: cv, portfolio, art label
Sunday 30th: photography workshop, learning about composition and light with Chhin Taingchhea and Vandy Rattana
October
Sunday 7th: 3rd workshop with graffiti artist Theo Vallier, participants join with artists to decorate wall of selapak neari
Sunday 14th: 4rd workshop with graffiti artist Theo Vallier, participants join with artists to decorate wall of selapak neari
Sunday 21st: Margherita del Balzo studio visit
Sunday 28th: 6th workshop with Virginie Noel, artist living in Cambodia on collage technique.
November
Sunday 4th: 7th workshop with Suos Sodavy on assemblage technique
Sunday 11th: Art tour to Battambang city
Sunday 18st: Self esteem and confidence training with Chinese female artist living in Cambodia Qudy Xu
Sunday 25th: Preparing for an exhibition with participants
Thursday 29th: Opening of women exhibition at the Plastic Art Department of Ministry of Culture
Linda Saphan | 855 (0) 12 560 911 | saphan@gmail.com
