When people refer to arts (selapak) in Cambodia it generally means performing arts. The word visual art has yet to be recognized in the Cambodian concept. The translation of the term does not exist. We took the word “chakok” which means “eye” alluding to staring to define visual. The word “samai” refer to now or the present. VAO’s purpose from the very beginning was to create a binding relationship between artists of different dimensions, connecting them to exhibiting spaces and vice versa, and to show the public the most creative minds working in the visual arts nowadays in Cambodia.
The team of Saklapel (the back slang of the word selapak) had embarked on an artists search. We searched, travelled and met visual artists of different generations to discuss their works and aspirations. Our idea was not to approach every artist with a fixed theme, something generally accustomed to by organizations. We felt that each artist was of different backgrounds: some are self-taught, some studied at the Fine Arts School, and some had spent years overseas. The only main thing we had in mind was that all artists work in the subject of the present.
VAO featured 19 Cambodian artists who work and live in Cambodia. The artists represented by VAO showed that Cambodian art should be considered as contemporary art and not simply as a nationalistic endeavor or as representing ideas of exoticism. Saklapel, through its website and future curatorial efforts seeks to exhibit the most prominent Cambodian artists in Cambodia and outside. We also hope to create a sense of art community amongst the visual artists
Linda Saphan and Sopheap Pich, curators of VAO 2005
