Contemporary Art Space
MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space
Our art gallery in Siem Reap is led by a collective of Cambodian and international artists and creatives. We focus on presenting and empowering Khmer artists to make their art accessible to a global audience. Our approach is community driven, and each exhibition is accompanied by educational events such as art talks and workshops.
Since 2017, we have produced several art exhibitions at our gallery in the city center of Siem Reap, and we regularly work with like-minded individuals in co-hosting cultural and artistic events. These events include pop-up design markets, skateboarding contests and school trips to visit art exhibitions. We also collaborate with schools and youth organizations and aim to make the world of art accessible to younger generations.
Our art gallery is a space for Cambodian artists to express themselves freely and connect with a wide audience from all over the world. MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space operates on a not-for-profit basis. 100% of our intake from sale commissions goes into the implementation of future art projects. Your support helps us to promote the emerging Cambodian art scene. Get in touch with us to find out how to contribute!
Visit Our Gallery in the Heart of Siem Reap!
Currently closed for rennovation.
Reopening April 23!
Visits outside the opening hours can be arranged.
art@mirage-collective.com
+855 (0)97 892 1626
+855 (0)96 408 2820
Current Exhibition
Reopening soon!
MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space is currently closed for renovation, and will reopen on April 23, 2021 with a exhibition by Ly Sokvichea and Ruth Sansitny.
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Upcoming Events
Coming soon
Reopening April 23, 2021
MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space is currently closed for renovation, and will reopen on April 23, 2021 with a exhibition by Ly Sokvichea and Ruth Sansitny.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the loop, or subscribe to our Newsletter!
Past Events
2021
Artist Talk with Vuth Lyno
Saturday February 13, 2021, 4:00pm
#SalaSamnak Exhibition is on show: November 21, 2020 – March 1, 2021
Sala samnak, a rest hall, is part of the fabric of the daily life of Cambodia, and its presence is symbolic of the Cambodian countryside. In his exhibition the artist explores the communal aspect of the space, and the social relations and chances of an encounter that are made possible under sala samnak. Join the artist talk with Vuth Lyno, to learn more about it.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Vuth Lyno (born 1982 in Phnom Penh) is an artist, curator and co-founding artistic director of Sa Sa Art Projects, a Phnom Penh’s artist-run space initiated by Stiev Selapak collective. His artistic and curatorial practices are participatory in nature, exploring communal learning, experimentation, and sharing of multiple voices through exchanges. He usually involves project’s participants in the production of meaning of the artwork. His interest intersects micro histories, notions of community, place making, and production of social situations. As an artist, Lyno works with various media including sculpture, photography, sound, light, and video, often resulting in an installation. He is particularly interested in the agency of human stories, materiality, and how the audience engages with them.
Lyno has presented his artworks widely in Cambodia, regionally and internationally including at major exhibitions and festivals such as Asia Pacific Triennial, Biennale of Sydney, Singapore International Festival of Arts, and Gwangju Biennale. His artworks have appeared at institutions such as Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei; Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane; Metropolitan Museum of Manila; the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; the National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta; Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw; Guangdong Times Museum, Guangzhou; Osage Gallery, Hong Kong; and Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Centre.
Lyno holds a Master of Art History from the State University of New York, Binghamton, New York, supported by a Fulbright Fellowship (2013 – 2015), and a Master of International Development from RMIT University, Melbourne supported by the Australian Endeavour Award (2008 – 2009).
Makers Market: "Kraum Chat"
February 13 + 14, 2021
On the premises of MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space and Koulen Hotel
Kraum Chat (ក្រោមឆ័ត្រ = “Under Umbrella”) is a new makers market in Siem Reap that brings the creative community together, under one roof. It is an inclusive event to connect artists and designers, and promote creative businesses. Come hang out with friends, support local initiatives and do your holiday gift shopping!
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Exhibition "Sala Samnak" by Vuth Lyno
Opening Night: Friday November 20, 2020 6:00pm
On Show: November 21, 2020 – March 1, 2021
Artist Talk: Saturday February 13, 2021, 4:00pm
“Sala Samnak” introduces new works of light installation and paintings by Vuth Lyno created with Kong Siden, Prum Ero and Than Sok. It explores a traditional communal space that exists throughout Cambodia: Sala samnak, a rest hall. Sala samnak is part of the fabric of the daily life of Cambodia, and its presence is symbolic of the Cambodian countryside. They are usually modest structures built on the roadside or in the village for passersby and visitors. In some cases, villagers use it for communal ceremonies or events. This practice dates back at least to before the Angkorian period.
The ancient name of this structure, ‘agni gRha’, translates into house of fire, and possibly refers to the rituals to the divine which took place in it. Today however, some sala samnak structures become neglected and abandoned. Their primordial function, that of offering a rest place for the passersby and travelers, is replaced by modern cafes and restaurants built along the roadside.
In “Sala Samnak,” Lyno is interested in the cultural and social functions of the rest hall and the evolution of its communal function. In one such use, villagers interact and create communal relations through rituals, which take place in the structure. On the other hand, visitors, and strangers may meet and rest together as they commute along their respective journeys. These social relations and chances of an encounter are made possible under sala samnak, which is usually generously built by the villagers. “Sala Samnak” illustrates the precarious state of these structures and their social, ungraspable aspects.
The neon-light installation suspended in the gallery space is otherworldly and reflects a country grasping onto its traditions whilst experiencing rapid economic and social development. This dream-like quality, produced by the radiating blue light, creates an unearthly experience that only appears after dark. The semi-immateriality and fragility of the structure hints at the uneven relevance of sala samnak today. Without the visitors, the sala samnak loses its purpose and simply becomes an empty space.
Every visit to the space is different and it is shaped by the individual encounters of passersby who will give it its ultimate meaning. Therefore, over the duration of the exhibition at MIRAGE, six paintings of glowing rest halls, represented by six black voids, will be appearing one by one. This ensures that the transient nature and changing character of these ‘rest halls’ will be reflected.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Vuth Lyno (born 1982 in Phnom Penh) is an artist, curator and co-founding artistic director of Sa Sa Art Projects, a Phnom Penh’s artist-run space initiated by Stiev Selapak collective. His artistic and curatorial practices are participatory in nature, exploring communal learning, experimentation, and sharing of multiple voices through exchanges. He usually involves project’s participants in the production of meaning of the artwork. His interest intersects micro histories, notions of community, place making, and production of social situations. As an artist, Lyno works with various media including sculpture, photography, sound, light, and video, often resulting in an installation. He is particularly interested in the agency of human stories, materiality, and how the audience engages with them. Lyno has presented his artworks widely in Cambodia, regionally and internationally including at major exhibitions and festivals such as Asia Pacific Triennial, Biennale of Sydney, Singapore International Festival of Arts, and Gwangju Biennale. His artworks have appeared at institutions such as Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei; Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane; Metropolitan Museum of Manila; the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; the National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta; Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw; Guangdong Times Museum, Guangzhou; Osage Gallery, Hong Kong; and Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Centre. Lyno holds a Master of Art History from the State University of New York, Binghamton, New York, supported by a Fulbright Fellowship (2013 – 2015), and a Master of International Development from RMIT University, Melbourne supported by the Australian Endeavour Award (2008 – 2009).
2020
Kassel Dummy Award 2020 Reading Rooms with Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops
Monday November 23 – Friday November 27, 2020
11:00am – 3:00pm
For the first time, the international Kassel Dummy Award is in Cambodia, as part of its international exhibition tour. 47 of the 50 shortlisted books will be exhibited at MIRAGE, followed by a one-day stop Meta House in Phnom Penh, before traveling onwards to Singapore.
In total, 395 photo books from 44 countries were sent in to the 2020 Kassel Dummy Award, which is presented by the Fotobookfestival Kassel for the best unpublished photo book mock-up of the year. Started in 2010, the event shortlists its top entries and three winners are chosen by an international jury, with the eventual first prize winner receiving a complete photo book production to emerging talents.
The exhibition is made possible by the generous sponsorship and collaboration of Fotobookfestival Kassel, Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops, Meta House Goethe-Center in Phnom Penh and MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space.
View the full line-up of all the books on their official website
Exhibition "I Am Nature?" by Khchao Touch
On Show: August 29 – November 9, 2020
Opening Night: Friday August 28, 6:00pm
Artist Talk: Saturday, August 29, 2:00pm
We are thrilled to reopen our art space with the exhibition by Battambang born artist Khchao Touch. The exhibition features two of her bodies of work: “Just Born”, (acrylic & oil on wood) and “Empty”, (ballpoint pen on paper). Nature is the essence of Khchao Touch’s practice. Her intricate and organically inspired patterns can feel almost psychedelic at first, but, within them, we sense a deep connection to the wider world. This profound link to nature, a recurring theme in her art, stems from a dedicated practice of meditation. For her, both nature and meditation are inextricably linked to existence. Each painting, made with the intricate pointillistic marks of tiny stems of bamboo and oil paint, can take months to create. Throughout this lengthy process, each piece grows like the world around and becomes a meditative process in itself.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Khchao Touch (born 1982, in Battambang) trained at the Phare Ponleu Selpak art school from 1998 – 2003, and became a teacher at the same institution until 2008, when she left to pursue her artistic career full time. Since then she has had solo exhibitions at the French Cultural Centre and the Art Café in Phnom Penh, The Hotel de la Paix, Heritage Suites Hotel and The French Cultural Centre in Siem Reap as well as participating in numerous group exhibitions in Cambodia and abroad.
Touch travelled to France in 2007 where she was artist in residence at Atelier Fenêtre sur rue, in Bordeaux, France and to Long Beach, USA, in 2009, where she made an installation and residency at the 2nd City Gallery. Touch was a nominee for the Sovereign Asia Art Prize 2009 and 2020. She was runner up in the “You Khin Memorial Women’s Art Prize 2010” and was also listed in South East Asia Globe magazine’s top 10 Cambodian artists feature. In 2009, Touch became a mother and for the next few years devoted most of her time to her family. In 2013 she opened Lotus Gallery in Battambang with her husband and she has been Artist in residence there since 2016. She continues to show her work nationally and internationally.
Reading Night "Reatrey Amnan" with Slap Paka Khmer
Saturday September 12, 6:00 – 8:00pm
This event marks the first collaboration of ស្លាបប៉ាកកាខ្មែរ-Khmer Collaborative Writers (Slap Paka Khmer) and MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space. We are very excited to host this event with hope that Reading Night (Reat Trei Am Nan) will enable writers and poets located in Siem Reap (or in Cambodia) to create more beautiful work and share it with local and international platforms.
The aim of the Reading Night (Reat Trei Am Nan) is to promote the rise of contemporary Cambodian reading and writing. The event is open for artists/poets/writers from any genre, to share their writing and creations. We aim at creating a reading and writing movement towards the elevation of contemporary literature, which nurtures our soul.
EVENT LINE-UP
6:00 – 7:00pm Feature Readers
With So Phina, Wayne McCallum, Chin Meas, Jean-Baphiste Phou, Khut Sokhoeun and Say Prakchhim
7:00 – 7:15pm Break
7:15 – 8:00pm Open Mic
We open the floor to the public. All genres and creations are welcome.
ABOUT SLAP PAKA KHMER
Slap Paka Khmer’s mission statement is “Our Pens will fly” encompassing the vision to support Khmer writers and elevate them up, dispel cultural norms and gender biases to enable Khmer writers to grow and create more beautiful medians of expression and works. Since the establishment, the team mostly led by two Khmer founders So Phina and Yeng Chheangly, Slap Paka Khmer is an active informal literary group that regularly hosts reading events, talks, festivals, and foster literary-cultural exchanges between Cambodian writers and the regions.
Slap Paka Khmer on Facebook
Facebook-Event (Khmer & English)
Event Photos on Facebook
Angkor Hangover with Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops
Saturday October 3, 2020, 4pm – 7pm
Hosted by Angkor Photo Festival & Workshop
The Angkor Hangover returns to Siem Reap! Join us on Saturday, Oct 3, at MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space as we get together for an evening of photography! From 4 – 6pm, we will be having an Open House! Come talk to us about your work, have your portfolio reviewed, or just seek advice in projects you are doing. This is especially for anyone who is thinking of applying for our 2020 Visual Storytelling Workshops. We can help you with any questions you have about the workshops, and help you with your application! We will also have a mini library with photo books from around Asia, and our unique Festival bags and t-shirts for sale!
From 6pm, we will be having a special encore screening of work from our alumni from across Asia. Officially selected for the projection programme of the Angkor Photo Festival, come be inspired by the wide range of work by the talented alumni of our Angkor Photo Workshop from across Asia.
Self Portrait Workshop with Khchao Touch: "Imagine, You Are Nature"
Saturday, August 29, 2020 at 2:00 – 4:00pm
Join the Artist Khchao Touch for a workshop on a Saturday afternoon. Inspired by her body of work “Empty”, you are invited to explore the techniques of pointillism, and create your portrait using simple, easily available tools and immerse yourself in the practice of meditation and imagination.
English with Khmer language support. Materials are provided. Maximum of 10 participants.
Adults: : USD 10
Children up to 12 years: USD 10
Booking required: art@mirage-collective.com
Artist Talk with Khchao Touch
Saturday August 29 2020, 1:00 pm
Join the artist talk with Khchao Touch this Saturday. The talk accompanies her exhibition “I Am Nature?” on show at MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space from August 28 until November 9, 2020. Meet the artist and get immersed in a meditative practice of pointillism discovering her two series “Just Born” and “Empty”.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“I have a Mother and a Father.
My Mother, with great difficulty, carried me for 9 months.
My body has developed from that of a baby to that of a 38 year old woman.
But before I was born, where was I?
Questions that I ask myself every day:
“Where am I going?”
“What am I doing?”
“Why was I born into this life and for what?”
I feel confused
Sometimes I’m angry
Sometimes I’m sad
Sometimes I’m happy
Sometimes I speak unkind words
Why always change?
When I look at the flowers and trees, they look so beautiful
They look more than beautiful
They look so peaceful
They look more than peaceful
They get up in the morning and they smile
They smile until they die
When they die they still smile
They turn into soil and offer life to other plants
All their lives, they just give, they don’t need anything from me
This is Nature?
Can I be like them?
Now I have found one place that teaches me how to educate my mind, how to learn about my mind, how to recognize my mind and how to work with my mind. Dhamma Latika [Vipassana meditation centre, Battambang]. This place teaches me meditation. This place teaches me how to calm and focus my mind.
My mind never wanted to listen to me, it always wanted to think, think, think, think! Think about the future, think about the past, always thinking about the negative, but never wanted to stay calm and still in the present moment, but now …
This place has shown me the “Art of Living” and I’m able to smile a little inside. It has watered the seed that I have planted, which now has started to grow.
I feel as if I am JUST BORN.”
Projection Night #MIRAGEinsight Winners Showcase
Friday August 14, 7:00 pm
Under the title #MIRAGEinsight, we had invited digital artists in Cambodia to participate in an open call for submissions, and share their reflections of the recent months with us. Join us for the projection night showcasing the winners! Get ready to be moved, surprised, amused, and inspired.
“An artist’s duty is to reflect the times.” Nina Simone
ABOUT THE OPEN CALL:
Social distancing has caused many things to come to a halt. Artists were put in a state of pausing, observing, and reflecting. MIRAGE would like to invite artists to share their insights and make these visible to the public. With this Open Call #MIRAGEinsight, we invited artists in Cambodia and the region, as well as Cambodian artists living abroad, to submit their digital artworks created during the recent months. The submissions were reviewed and selected by the MIRAGE Collective, and supported by the Chaktomuk Short Film Festival and Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops.
Projection Night Angkor Photo Festival Workshops
Friday July 31, 7:00 pm
Angkor Photo Workshop Projection Night features photo stories, created in Siem Reap during the 15th Angkor Photo Workshop 2019. We are proud to be hosting this replay at MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space, followed by a Q&A with the festival director Jessica Lim.
The core of the Angkor Photo Festival & Workshop is a free workshop for 30 Asian photographic talents, focused on nurturing each individual’s unique vision and approach to the medium of photography. During the intensive week-long workshop, participants are required to work on a photo story under the guidance of their tutors. We are excited to replay that slideshow at MIRAGE this Friday, featuring the work of photographers from Cambodia, and all over Asia.
The event is free of charge and open to all.
ABOUT THE ANGKOR PHOTO FESTIVAL & WORKSHOPS
The Angkor Photo Festival & Workshop programme consists of professional workshops, public exhibitions, projection evenings, and other professional activities aimed at creating a space for interaction, exchange and dialogue with a focus on Asia.
Since 2005, Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops has nurtured Asia’s photographic community by providing an affordable and accessible platform for professional development and exchange. The longest-running international photography event in Southeast Asia, the festival aims to create a space for interaction, exchange and dialogue with a focus on Asia. Since 2018, Angkor Photo Festival has had a change in its leadership and direction. The festival is now led by a 13-member committee of photographers from Cambodia and around Asia, helmed by the director of the festival, Jessica Lim.
There are three parts to the annual event:
– Tuition-free Professional Workshop:
The annual Angkor Photo Workshops is a free workshop for emerging Asian photographers. 30 participants are selected yearly through an open call.
– Anjali Photo Workshop:
A special photography workshop for the children of the Anjali House, an independent NGO in Siem Reap supporting vulnerable children through education, scholarships, and community engagement.
– Public Festival:
Free and open to all, the festival consists of exhibitions, projection evenings, portfolio reviews, openings, artist talks and other professional activities.
Short Film Night "Chaktomuk Finalists 2019"
Saturday, June 27 2020, 7:00 – 9:00pm
In our second night of the Short Film Features at MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space in collaboration with Chaktomuk Short Film Festival (CSFF), we present to you the finalists of last year’s edition. Sum Sithen, the director of CSFF, Cambodia’s largest short film festival, will be present to introduce the projections and host a Q&A with fellow Cambodian filmmakers. Join the event to get a glimpse of the growing filmmaking scene in Cambodia!
LINE-UP:
“A Road Painter”
Directed by Sin Chantha
(6min, Khmer version with English subtitles)
An old woman working as a road painter for roads in Phnom Penh. One day while she works on the street, she find something and it happens.
“The Kitchen”
Directed by Ek Samedy
(8min, Khmer version with English subtitles)
After talking with his friends, a married man wants to divorce his wife because she doesn’t cook well and can’t take care him as well. But later, he changes his mind.
“The Tro’s String”
Directed by Vong Panhavon
(11min, Khmer version with English subtitles)
A kid want to buy a toy, but he has no enough money to buy, so he borrows a Tro (Khmer Traditional music instrument) from his grand father to perform for money. But when he has enough money, he buys a toy for his brother instead of his favorite toy.
“Because I Love You More”
Directed by Chan Sineth
(14min, Khmer version with English subtitles)
A love story of a young couple trying to show how much they love each other. They come up with an idea to make a bet, to find who loves the most between them.
“The Dancer”
Directed by Seng Thy
(15min, Khmer version with English subtitles)
A grandmother returns home with her children and live in a large house built in 70s. She recalls her memories with this big house.
“Before The Rain”
Directed by Neth Inrasothythep
(25min, Khmer version with English subtitles)
Two young schoolgirls, Sarita and Thida are close friends. They always meet to share happy times together. Both of them, they have family problems that are hidden in their mind.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Chaktomuk Short Film Festival (CSFF) is Cambodia’s largest officially recognised international scaled short film festival. Founded by Kon Khmer Koun Khmer (now known as SFA) since 2012, CSFF has served as a go-to springboard for independent filmmakers to take on great opportunities and careers in their own paths. In the last eight years, thousands of short filmmakers across the country and all over the world, have submitted their short films in virtually all genres to this festival. Its first and second editions were run online, when cineplexes were yet unknown to Cambodia. CSFF is thus the most viable platform of the Kingdom, for filmmakers to showcase their creative works with cost efficiency to a wide audience.
The organizer behind CSFF is Sunflower Film Alliance-ក្រុមភាពយន្តឈូករ័ត្ន (SFA), a non-profit, independent collective of
young Cambodian film enthusiasts, aged between 15 and 40. With its continued passion in short film production and events since 2009, the collective has been rebranded since late 2017 by Cambodian film activist, Sum Sithen, to reach out to its
provincial allies, also in need of such professional framework and technical support.
Read more:
https://filmfreeway.com/csff
http://csff.co/
http://sunflowerfilm.org/
Short Film Night "Chaktomuk Highlights 2019"
Friday, June 26 2020, 7:00 – 9:00pm
MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space is thrilled to open its doors again to the public, and, on top of it, mark the start of a collaboration with Chaktomuk Short Film Festival (CSFF), Cambodia’s largest short film festival, and raise more awareness of the growing filmmaking scene in Cambodia. This Friday, we’re presenting you a selection of Highlights and Special Mentions from the Chaktomuk Short Film Festival 2019.
LINE-UP:
“Psycho”
Directed by Song Seakleng
(2min, English version)
An artistic short film about a person suffering from chronic mental disorder with abnormal or violent social behaviour.
“Who”
Directed by Suon Kimseng
(6min, English version)
Min and Doyun found out about their friend’s death one night due to drug overdose and decided to investigate who sold the drug inside the school.
“The Happiness”
Directed by Duch Phlek Kannitha
(6min, Khmer version with English subtitles)
The family’s warmth and happiness is about forgiveness, patience, understanding, sharing, frame the good memories and enjoy together. Then we will not regret anything. The most important thing to remember is to treat everyone equally and to understand each other in order to make joyous household.
“Escape”
Directed by Ouk Chan Bophay
(8min, Khmer version with English subtitles)
York was arrested and detained by a gang in a quiet room and waiting for execution. That night, York fight them back to escape.
“Damnok Chheam”
Directed by Tep Panhrong
(12min, Khmer version with English subtitles)
Neath is a teenage girl who lives with her boyfriend until got pregnant without plan. One day, they got into a big fight and cause to separation. After that, she was so hurt and decided to get abortion on her own which almost got herself killed.
“Project: Paralysis”
Directed by Vi Peou
(24min, Khmer version with English subtitles)
Veda with his best friend Tong investigate the paranormal disappearance of his little sister, Pich.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:
Chaktomuk Short Film Festival (CSFF) is Cambodia’s largest officially recognised international scaled short film festival. Founded by Kon Khmer Koun Khmer (now known as SFA) since 2012, CSFF has served as a go-to springboard for independent filmmakers to take on great opportunities and careers in their own paths. In the last eight years, thousands of short filmmakers across the country and all over the world, have submitted their short films in virtually all genres to this festival. Its first and second editions were run online, when cineplexes were yet unknown to Cambodia. CSFF is thus the most viable platform of the Kingdom, for filmmakers to showcase their creative works with cost efficiency to a wide audience.
The organizer behind CSFF is Sunflower Film Alliance-ក្រុមភាពយន្តឈូករ័ត្ន (SFA), a non-profit, independent collective of
young Cambodian film enthusiasts, aged between 15 and 40. With its continued passion in short film production and events since 2009, the collective has been rebranded since late 2017 by Cambodian film activist, Sum Sithen, to reach out to its
provincial allies, also in need of such professional framework and technical support.
Read more:
https://filmfreeway.com/csff
http://csff.co/
http://sunflowerfilm.org/
Visual Storytelling Workshop with Siv Serey
Saturday, February 8, 2020, 2:00 – 5:00pm
Accompanying our documentary photography exhibition “Our Village” by Ry Roun
Join the workshop with photographer and MIRAGE Co-Founder Serey Siv, and learn how to select and edit your photographs.
Free of charge
English with Khmer language support
www.sereysiv.com
Maximum of 10 participants
To reserve your spot, register under info@mirage-collective.com
Artist Talk with Ry Roun
Saturday Januar 18 2020, 2:00 – 3:00pm
Khmer with English language support
Free of charge
This artist talk with Roun Ry is accompanying his documentary photography exhibition “Our Village” at MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space on show until February 24, 2020. Meet the artist, hear the stories behind the photographs and get to ask questions about his life as a photographer and artist in Siem Reap.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“The series ‘Our Village’ is in part inspired by my interaction with the villagers from the fishing communities in Phnom Krom, Chong Kneas and Kampong Phluk. I wanted to capture moments of everyday life in the villages and document the challenges the fishermen and their families face living on the Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. With overfishing and dam construction projects becoming a threat to the ecosystem of the lake, I hope the viewers, just like me, can get a sense of how important human-nature relationship is for us Cambodians, particularly within the fishing communities.”
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Roun Ry is a self-taught photographer and translator based in Siem Reap, Cambodia. His interest in the medium began when he first participated in the annual Anjali Photo Workshops in 2010, organized by the non-profit Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops.
In December 2016, he was invited to attend a masterclass with a French photographer Antoine d’Agata and an Indian photographer Sohrab Hura during the Angkor Photo Festival. Since then, his passion for photography has motivated him to learn as much as possible about the craft. He is an active collaborator of the Festival, volunteering his time to help his younger Cambodian peers to learn photography.
His attention is focused on documenting the life of the Tonle Sap Lake and the local indigenous Cham Community. He works as a photographer and local guide.
www.rounryphotography.com
2019
Artist Talk with Indonesian Street Artist Anagard
Saturday December 14 2019, 2:00 – 4:00pm
Anagard is a professional street artist that specializes in stencil street art and whose work is characterized not only by the traditional colours and patterns he uses, but also by the half-man, half-animal heads and masks of his characters. He graduated from the Indonesia Institute of Arts University (ISI) in Yogyakarta where he has taken the initiative in the nascent street art movement and as a result has become an active organizer of art events and street art festivals across the country.
His work often incorporates traditional motifs mixed with a raw illustrative style and explores a variety of issues such as anti-extremism, the environment, politics, and the protection of Indonesian lands, people, and culture.
He remainds very active, both in his home country and abroad and his colorful art can be found adorning many walls around Yogyakarta, Bali, Lombok, and abroad in neighbouring countries like Malaysia, and Thailand. He has also painted prolifically across the globe in Australia; Berlin, Poland, Lithuania, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, and across other parts of Europe to name a few.
In November of 2019 he won the United Overseas Bank ‘South-East Asian Painting of the Year’ award with his piece entitled: ”Welcome Perdamaian, Goodbye Kedengkian (Welcome Peace, Goodbye Hostility)”, a stencil painting on aluminium.
Anagard on Facebook
Interview with Anagard
Read his latest feature here in The Straits Times:
Exhibition "Our Village" by Ry Roun
On Show: November 30 2019 – February 24, 2020
Opening Night: Friday November 29 2019, 6:00pm
Artist Talk: Saturday Januar 18 2020, 2:00 – 3:00pm
Join us for a memorable opening night of our next exhibition “Our Village” by documentary photographer Roun Ry, and let’s celebrate our third year anniversary at MIRAGE.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
“The series ‘Our Village’ is in part inspired by my interaction with the villagers from the fishing communities in Phnom Krom, Chong Kneas and Kampong Phluk. I wanted to capture moments of everyday life in the villages and document the challenges the fishermen and their families face living on the Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. With overfishing and dam construction projects becoming a threat to the ecosystem of the lake, I hope the viewers, just like me, can get a sense of how important human-nature relationship is for us Cambodians, particularly within the fishing communities.”
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Roun Ry is a self-taught photographer and translator based in Siem Reap, Cambodia. His interest in the medium began when he first participated in the annual Anjali Photo Workshops in 2010, organized by the non-profit Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops. In December 2016, he was invited to attend a masterclass with a French photographer Antoine d’Agata and an Indian photographer Sohrab Hura during the Angkor Photo Festival. Since then, his passion for photography has motivated him to learn as much as possible about the craft. He is an active collaborator of the Festival, volunteering his time to help his younger Cambodian peers to learn photography. His attention is focused on documenting the life of the Tonle Sap Lake and the local indigenous Cham Community. He works as a photographer and local guide.
Public Lecture with Emily Howe
Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 10:00 – 11:00am
This Public Lecture with Emily Howe is hosted in conjunction with the Center for Khmer Studies and accompanies the exhibition “សូរស្រ្តី | Her Sounds”. Emily will theorize the importance of sound and music as a means of documenting and understanding women’s lives, as well as cultural continuity and change across generations. She will then take listeners behind the scenes of the project’s genesis and production, sharing data and preliminary conclusions as well as challenges and pitfalls of the project. Finally, she will argue for the practical and theoretical potential of collaborative, public-oriented research projects such as “សូរស្រ្តី | Her Sounds.” Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to explore the exhibition at MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space.
ABOUT “HER SOUNDS”:
The arts hold a complex position in the Cambodian imaginary. While on one hand often referred to as “the soul of Cambodia,” study of the arts is sometimes dismissed as akin to “kicking air,” emphasizing its impractical, artificial nature. For women artists, this dichotomy is complicated further by the widespread belief that to earn a living as musician or dancer is tantamount to selling one’s body. And so being a woman artist in Cambodia, as in many other contexts, requires particular courage, passion, and persistence.
And yet, despite these challenges, women artists in Cambodia fearlessly pursue their art every day, enhancing community life in significant but often under-acknowledged ways – and finding joy, solidarity, and strength in the process.
“សូរស្ត្រី | Her Sounds” is a collaborative multimedia research project and exhibition aiming to explore these tensions and dichotomies while celebrating the passion, persistence, and power of Cambodia’s women artists through image, sound, and story. Featuring artist portraits by photographer Neak Sophal and accompanying sound pieces created from interviews with ethnomusicologist Emily Howe, the exhibition constructs a living archive of the significant contributions women artists make to Cambodian society by documenting the perspectives of culture-bearers, innovators, and community artists spanning the nation and generations. Showcasing the artistry of traditional, classical, popular, and contemporary musicians and dancers while also illuminating the social significance of quotidian practices including social dance, ritual chant, and lullaby, the exhibition aims to spark dialogue about the art, lives, and dreams of Cambodian women past, present, and future.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Emily Howe is a CKS Senior Fellow and an American ethnomusicologist, music educator, and conductor who through her research and practice explores music and sound as a lens into global history and culture, as well as a means of catalyzing social change in diverse contexts. Currently a PhD Candidate in Ethnomusicology at Boston University, Emily’s dissertation examines the politics of development and social change in contemporary Cambodia through analysis of music and dance practices. Active as a conductor and music educator, Emily is passionate about working to make meaningful musical experiences accessible to all who might want them and has led ensembles and projects in schools, community music centers, prisons, and houses of worship in her hometown of Boston and around the world. Emily has authored publications, given presentations, and taught university courses on topics related to music education, choral music, and world music cultures, and she continues to explore issues related to global repertoires, performance, and identity in her scholarly and creative practice.
Exhibition "Her Sounds" by Neak Sophal and Emily Howe
On Show: August 24 – November 25, 2019
Opening Night: Friday August 23, 2019 at 6:00pm
We’re excited to announce our newest collaboration with Neak Sophal and Emily Howe, presenting their exhibition “Her Sounds.” It is a collaborative multimedia research project and exhibition celebrating the passion, persistence, and power of Cambodia’s women artists through image, sound, and story. Featuring artist portraits by photographer Neak Sophal and accompanying sound pieces created from interviews with ethnomusicologist Emily Howe, the exhibition constructs a living archive of the significant contributions women artists make to Cambodian society by documenting the perspectives of culture-bearers, innovators, and community artists spanning the nation and generations. Showcasing the artistry of traditional, classical, popular, and contemporary musicians and dancers while also illuminating the social significance of quotidian practices including social dance, ritual chant, and lullaby, the exhibition aims to spark dialogue about the art, lives, and dreams of Cambodian women past, present, and future.
This project is made possible by the generous support of:
Giant Ibis Transport
Be Happy by Baby Elephant
Hotel De La Chheng
Mony Reach Angkor Hotel
Colorhouse Prints
ABOUT THE COLLABORATORS:
Neak Sophal (born 1989, Cambodia), a graduate of the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh, has a growing reputation for her distinct aesthetic and ongoing thematic exploration of Cambodian society. Through composed portraiture staged collaboratively with her subjects, Sophal’s artwork often challenges social structures, illuminating the hidden memories and fear that animate people’s lives and identities. Active locally and internationally, Sophal has participated in workshops and group and solo exhibitions in France, Sweden, the United States, Japan, and Australia, as well as at Angkor Photo Festival (Cambodia), Spot Art (Singapore), Hong Kong International Photo Festival, Bangkok Photo Festival, Asian Eye Culture (Thailand), Voice of Tacitness Exhibition (China), Our City Festival (Cambodia), SurVivArt (Germany), and Photo Phnom Penh Festival (Cambodia). Read more about her work at www.sophalneak.com.
Emily Howe (born 1987, USA) is an American ethnomusicologist, music educator, and conductor who through her research and practice explores music and sound as a lens into global history and culture, as well as a means of catalyzing social change in diverse contexts. Currently conducting research for her PhD dissertation about music in Cambodia, Emily has authored publications, given presentations, and taught university courses on topics related to music education, choral music, and world music cultures, and she continues to explore issues related to global repertoires, performance, and identity in her scholarly and creative practice. Read more about her work at www.emilyhowe.info.
BACKGROUND
The arts hold a complex position in the Cambodian imaginary. While on one hand often referred to as “the soul of Cambodia,” study of the arts is sometimes dismissed as akin to “kicking air,” emphasizing its impractical, artificial nature. For women artists, this dichotomy is complicated further by the widespread belief that to earn a living as a musician or dancer is tantamount to selling one’s body. And so being a woman artist in Cambodia, as in many other contexts, requires particular courage, passion, and persistence.
And yet, despite these challenges, women artists in Cambodia fearlessly pursue their art every day, enhancing community life in significant but often under acknowledged ways – and finding joy, solidarity, and strength in the process. Listening to the stories of women artists across generations, we can hear of passion in the face of adversity, artistry in the face of pain, and pride in the face of discouragement. We can sense the genuine love with which these artists pursue their work, often with little financial reward or societal recognition. And we can learn something of artists’ belief in the significance of their art for Cambodian society, and the desire they have to transmit their knowledge to the next generation.
We can also understand how broader ideas about women in society are expressed in and navigated through artistic practice in Cambodia, and how such negotiation has been approached at different points in history. Speaking with classical dancers who specialize in the yek giant role, including Master Em Theay, we can understand how women for millennia have been taught to embody strength and rage – attributes not typically attributed to “proper” Cambodian women. Speaking with classical musicians including Master Tep Mari and young artist Maen Sreymao prompts us to consider historical attitudes toward women who play classical instruments – a practice few women learn in the present. And speaking with young contemporary dancers including New Cambodian Artists, we can learn how a new generation of artists is exploring ideas about gender through performances consciously challenging typically feminine comportment.
Thus, by exploring how societal ideas about gender are expressed through traditional, classical, popular, and quotidian artistic practices, this exhibition illuminates the place of the arts in the lives of Cambodian women while sparking dialogue about the potentials and limitations of music and dance to promote gender equality, to empower women, and to catalyze social change.
SELECTED ARTISTS
Em Theay:
Master Em Theay is an 86-year-old classical dancer who grew up in the Royal Palace, where she learned to specialize in the yek (giant) role. Subsequently, she trained her daughter and granddaughter in the role; today, all three generations work professionally as dancers.
Hem Sovann:
As a young woman, 71-year-old Hem Sovann moved to Phnom Penh from her hometown in Pursat province to pursue a career as a singer, performing with the biggest stars of the sixties and seventies including Sin Sisamouth. She is one of the few popular artists to survive the Khmer Rouge regime, and she continues to perform today.
Yeiy Chong:
Yeiy Chong is a 68-year old woman from Oddar Meanchey who performs ritual songs with the khen (mouth organ) instrument at cremation ceremonies in her community.
Messenger Band:
Comprising five former garment workers, the Phnom Penh-based Messenger Band travels around Cambodia leading collaborative song-writing projects giving voice to the challenges facing urban and rural communities.
Thorn Seyma:
Originally from Kampot province, 42-year-old Thorn Seyma is a singer and co-founder of the Khmer Magic Music Bus, a community music initiative bringing live traditional music to rural Cambodia.
Srey Sokhy:
36-year-old Srey Sokhy recently relocated from Phnom Penh to her hometown in rural Kampong Thom province, where she was active as a dancer in Roam Luek Phka (“Selling Flowers Dance”) fundraising events in her community before she married.
Men Mao:
Siem Reap-based Maen Sreymao is a 32-year-old expert at the rare traditional instrument tro Khmer, which she learned from her father, as well as a singer and member of the women’s drumming ensemble Medha.
Vartey Ganiva:
Vartey Ganiva is a 27-year-old punk singer whose original songs discuss the realities of women’s lives in urban Phnom Penh.
New Cambodian Artists:
The young Siem Reap-based dancers of New Cambodian Artists create contemporary dance theater inspired by their training in classical Cambodian dance and speaking to the issues facing women in contemporary Cambodia.
Artist Talk with Bor Hak from Romcheik Pram Collective
Saturday, July 13, 2019 at 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Free of charge
Khmer with English language support
Join the Artist Talk with Bor Hak from Romcheik 5 collective accompanying the “Unsaid Things” exhibition. This event is organised in conjunction with our current exhibition “Unsaid Things” by Romcheik 5.
ABOUT BOR HAK
(born 1990, Kampong Thom Province, Cambodia)
Bor Hak, sculptor and illustrator. He graduated from Phare Ponleu Selpak School in 2010, where he currently works in the Phare Ponleu Selpak Animation studio. He lives and works at Romcheik 5 art space.
Solo exhibitions:
2018 Tribalism / Romcheik 5 Artspace / Battambang
2014 “ Green world” / Sammaki gallery / Battambang
Duo exhibition:
2019 That Which is Hidden / Java café & gallery / Phnom Penh
2017 Deep in the wood / Meta House / Phnom Penh
2013 Knitting & Weaving / Top art Gallery / Phnom Penh
Group exhibitions:
2018 Saison du Cambodge / Galerie Impressions / Paris
2016 Out of darkness / Constable gallery/ Siem Reap
2014 Made in Cambodia / Galerie 3F / Paris / France
2014 Made in Battambang / French Institute / Phnom Penh
2014 Portraits du Cambodge / Galerie Impressions / Paris
2013 Memory Workshop / Seasons of Cambodia / New-York
2012 Bor Hak in the land of guignols / Romeet Gallery / Phnom Penh
2017 Award : Best cambodian animation short film (Tokyo international animation movie festival)
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION “UNSAID THINGS” AT MIRAGE
From June 22 until August, 19, 2019
Romcheik 5 Collective take their name from the sleepy neighbourhood of Battambang where seven years ago four ambitious young artists established a collective with the help of a private donor. What initially started out as a modest group of simple shelters to give artists a safe space to live and create has over the years evolved into a permanent collection, gallery and communal studio complex that highlights contemporary visual arts from the local area. The province itself has long been a bastion of creativity and has produced some of the most innovative artists, musicians, thinkers and poets in Khmer society for over a century with many scholars tracing this creative autonomy back to the Angkorian era.
Bor Hak, Hour Seyha, Nget Chanpenh and Mil Chankrin, the artists who make up the core of Romcheik 5, are all graduates from the renowned Phare Ponleu Selpak School. After graduation, what defined these young artists and motivated them to form their collective were the shared experiences of their youth; memories of abandonment, irresponsible parents, exile and distress. As children they were sold into child labour in Thailand and trafficked across the border, sometimes picking fruit, herding cattle and working long hours in garment factories. When they were caught and deported back to Cambodia, they found their way into Phare Ponleu Selpak and the arts provided a way for them to process the trauma they had experienced. In a country where nobody remains untouched by violence and exploitation the work of the collective is a testament to the transformative and healing nature of the artistic process.
“Unsaid Things”, proudly hosted by MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space, is a bold comment on past, present and future Cambodia providing an illuminating look into the darker parts of society which often remain unspoken. The artists are concerned with the unfathomable ways in which societies are shaped by collective traumas and their work is a reflection of its impact on the psychology of the people. In a part of the world where mental health disorders are often undiagnosed and misunderstood the rippling effects of these traumas throughout the generations can cause damage on a scale that is incalculable. From depictions of surrealistic villages that serve as societal critique to malformed figures in watercolour and sculpture that appear ripped apart by internal conflict, the artists take us from conflict to spiritual wonderment, to observation and collective torment.
Go Skateboarding Day 2019
June 22, 2019
NO EXCUSES. GO SKATE. Go Skateboarding Day 2019 is your chance to join the skateboarders from all around the globe and show your support and to skateboard. Join Cambodia’s one and only Go Skateboarding Day 2019!
This is a joint event by MIRAGE Collective and Metal Your Day. And it is possible due to our awesome sponsors, collaborators and the prizes sponsors.
OUR SPECIAL THANKS GO TO:
Silk Garden for offering us the after-party venue
Chris Shie for sponsoring skateboards and all your PR support
TRIBE Cambodia, thank you for the trophy for the best skater & the limited print by the Street Artist Fin Dac (!)
Ink Lab Tattoo Siem Reap for offering 200$ worth voucher for tattoos
Be Happy by Baby Elephant and Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel sponsoring the vouchers and to your co-owner Adam Scott for being our DJ (!!!)
10K Skate-Shop for the skateboarding gear
Pool Party Hostel for offering an overnight stay (B&B for 2) and apparel
X Bar for letting us skate your ramp, promotion, apparel and vouchers
And Collaborators:
Phare, The Cambodian Circus, CRANE Siem Reap, Bang Bang Bakery-Cafe, Wine O’clock – CAFE & DELI BAR – 24hours, OFF TRACK Accessories, Atmosphere Siem Reap, Jungle Burger Sports Bar & Bistro, Sport Legends Arena, Charlie+ Barber Shop and The Coffeeholic.
Thank you for making the Go Skateboarding Day 2019 happen!
And as Florian from MYD would say: you metal
SCHEDULE
6:00 – 7:30pm
Skating at Royal Gardens: Game of Skate Demo | Best Trick Contest | Hippy Jump
Contest 8:00pm – 12:00 am
After-party @ Silk Garden: Winners, Prizes and Giveaways, Music & Fun
Exhibition "Unsaid Things" by Romcheik Pram
On Show: June 22 – August, 19, 2019
Opening Night: Friday June 21, 2019 at 6:00pm
Artist Talk with Bor Hak: July 13, 2019
“Unsaid Things”, proudly hosted by Mirage Contemporary Art Space, is a bold comment on past, present and future Cambodia providing an illuminating look into the darker parts of society which often remain unspoken. The artists are concerned with the unfathomable ways in which societies are shaped by collective traumas and their work is a reflection of its impact on the psychology of the people. In a part of the world where mental health disorders are often undiagnosed and misunderstood the rippling effects of these traumas throughout the generations can cause damage on a scale that is incalculable. From depictions of surrealistic villages that serve as societal critique to malformed figures in watercolour and sculpture that appear ripped apart by internal conflict, the artists take us from conflict to spiritual wonderment, from observation to collective torment.
ABOUT THE ROMCHEIK 5 COLLECTIVE
ROMCHEIK 5 take their name from the sleepy neighbourhood of Battambang where seven years ago four ambitious young artists: Bor Hak, Hour Seyha, Nget Chanpenh and Mil Chankrin established a collective with the help of a private donor. What initially started out as a modest group of simple shelters to give artists a safe space to live and create, has over the years evolved into a permanent collection, gallery and communal studio complex that highlights contemporary visual arts from the local area.
Bor Hak, Hour Seyha, Nget Chanpenh and Mil Chankrin, the artists who make up the core of Romcheik 5, are all graduates from the renowned Phare Ponleu Selpak School. After graduation, what defined these young artists and motivated them to form their collective were the shared experiences of their youth; memories of abandonment, irresponsible parents, exile and distress.They were sold into child labour in Thailand and trafficked across the border. Once deported back to Cambodia, they have found their way into renowned Phare Ponleu Selpak School and the arts helped them to process the trauma they had experienced.
The Collective lives and works in Battambang. Despite their young age, they already participated in solo exhibitions in Phnom Penh, and group exhibitions abroad. Many of their works have been sold in several countries in Europe, Asia, Australia and the USA.
Exhibition "Trails Of Siem Reap" by Foo Kwee Horng
On Show: June 14 – 16, 2019
Opening Night: Friday, June 14 2019 at 06:00pm
In his exhibition “Trails of Siem Reap” Foo Kwee Horng takes us on his personal journey to Cambodia, a country dear to the Singaporean artist. His watercolours are recollections of day-to-day Cambodian scenes.
We follow the artist as he discovers, captures and zooms in on everyday miracles. We get immersed in tumultuous streets of Siem Reap’s downtown, we sometimes wander without purpose, seeking refuge in the shade of the River Road trees. We observe orange-clad monks and tuk-tuk drivers resting in their hommocks. As we meet the local vendors at the Old Market, the artist evokes scents and flavours of Cambodian spices, of amok, curries and hot basil. Traveling the back roads on a tuk-tuk, dust blurs the iconic image before us – the temple of Angkor Wat, secret in its jungle foliage. We reach it at sunset and its beauty is overwhelming.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Foo Kwee Horng turned to full-time painting in 2010 after having been an art teacher for 15 years. Apart from painting, he does part-time teaching to teachers and students of mainstream schools and is an external supervisor for NIE art teachers. He is also a regular volunteer at Colours of Cambodia, Siem Reap. The exhibition at MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space is a tribute to the artist’s memories and experiences gained in Cambodia.
Printmaking Workshop with Open Studio Cambodia
Saturday April 27, 2019 at 10:00am – 12:00pm
Join the artists of Open Studio Cambodia for a printmaking workshop, accompanying our current exhibition “A Place For Us”. You will learn how to make a linoleum block print with your own design (or with a design provided by us) and leave with a printed picture.
All skill levels are welcome, all materials included.
Cost: 25 USD/person
Book your spot: info@mirage-collective.com
Exhibition "A Place for Us" by Open Studio Cambodia
On Show: April 26 – June 10, 2019
Opening Night: Friday, April 26, 6:00pm
Printmaking Workshop on Saturday, April 27, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Open Studio Cambodia’s debut exhibition in Siem Reap. “A Place For Us” showcases the work of six emerging Cambodian artists based in Kampot. Celebrating the sacredness of the artists’ creative space, Open Studio brings the studio to the viewer, recreating the active creative workspace inside the gallery. Every piece unravels a story for the viewer, often autobiographical, from anecdotal to epic, uplifting to tragic to otherworldly.
Artists On Show:
Chan Phoun, Morn Chear, Pav Rasmey, Yim Mary, Long Lavy, Srey Norp, Rath Rathana and Lauren Iida
More information about Open Studio Cambodia:
https://www.openstudiocambodia.com/
Wine reception during the opening by Les Celliers d’Asie Siem Reap
Furniture installation supported by Oko Gallery
Artist Talk with The HOMELESS Collective
Saturday March 9, 2019 at 2:00pm
Join the talk by KWN23, Shanghai Chang and Many Sin, accompanying their 180°, Homeless Artists Collective exhibition at MIRAGE on show until April 15. The HOMELESS Artist Collective is a Phnom Penh based, collective of 3 young Cambodian artists who share the same passion for art. First exhibited as a collective in January 2019, with the exhibit ‘I DON’T BELONG HERE’ at Bong The Gallery, Phnom Penh Cambodia. 180° at MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space is their first exhibition in Siem Reap.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
So Sothsovakong / KWN23
(born 1998, Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia) So Sothsovankong is a self-taught graffiti artist. His practices include graffiti, film and painting. In 2017 he worked as an assistant and graffiti artist for PAINT PHNOM PENH Project at The Factory Phnom Penh. In the same year he played the lead character of Sok Chan Rado’s “White Wall,” a short film-selected for screening at the Chaktomuk Film Festival 2017. In 2018 he was selected by Java Creative Café as Creative Generation 2018 and exhibited “Light at the End of the Tunnel”. His work has also been exhibited internationally in Tokyo as part of the group exhibition “Being No-one, Going Nowhere”. KWN23 currently works for Sa Sa Art Projects, a Cambodian artist-run space, lives and works in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Shanghai Chang
(born 1996, Phnom Penh, Cambodia) Shanghai Chang is a conceptual fashion designer and visual artist. He graduated with a BA from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Fashion Design and Photography. His practice includes conceptual fashion design, photography, experimental film and installation. His conceptual fashion has been exhibited at Java Creative Café as part of ‘Creative Generation 2017’ and his solo exhibition, “Dancer in the Dark”. 2018 was a very fruitful year for Shanghai: he was in-residency artists at Kon Len Khnom Art Space, and his short movie “mélancolie (n.)” was screened during International Film Festival 2018 in Phnom Penh and selected for “S-Express Cambodia 2018”. He also exhibited in Tokyo as part of group exhibition “Being Noone, Going Nowhere” and in Meta House in “Plastic Kingdom” group exhibition. He is the founder and lead designer behind ‘WINDOWSEAT’ a conceptual fashion and creative menswear label produced in Phnom Penh where he currently resides.
Many Sin
(born in 1990, Battambang Province, Cambodia) Many is a self-taught contemporary artist whose work includes installation, painting, sculpture and photography. He graduated with a BA in Banking and Finance from the University of Battambang. He has worked closely with SA SA BASSAC as an exhibition attendant. He was selected by Java Creative Café to produce his first solo show in 2018 entitled: “Sign”. In 2018 he also participated in two group exhibitions. “Personnes and Espace’ was held at the French Institute of Cambodia in Phnom Penh and in Tokyo his work was part of ‘Being Noone, Going Nowhere’. He currently works as a curatorial assistant for multiple art projects in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Exhibition "180°" by The HOMELESS Collective
On Show: February 16 – April 14, 2019
Opening Night: Friday February 15, 2019 at 6:00pm
Artist Talk: Saturday April 9, 2019 at 2:00pm
“When three creative weirdos found each other, their lives turned 180°.”
In this second exhibition as a collective, the artists Shanghai Chang, KWAN 23 and Many Sin explore what unites them despite there being many differences in their artistic practice. Together, as a collective, they share a passion for contemporary arts, fashion, music, and bohemian lifestyles. ‘180°’ refers to their brave divergent practices and truly modern approach to making art compared to their contemporaries and forbearers. The exhibition at MIRAGE comprises of sublime dressmaking by Shanghai Chang, paintings by KWN23 and steel sculptures and screen prints by Many Sin.
ON THE EVENT NIGHT:
LIVE silk screen printing by Silk Screen Printing Lab: bring your cotton t-shirt and we will help you to print a design on it. Printing on items brought by guests is donation-based in order to support H O M E L E S S and its members. There will be white t-shirts prepared on site available for purchase. We offer one design in black print. Live visual projections by Disaster Tourist Lightshow Wine reception by Les Celliers d’Asie Siem Reap
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
The HOMELESS Collective is a Phnom Penh based, collective of 3 young Cambodian artists who share the same passion for art. First exhibited as a collective in January 2019, with the exhibit ‘I DON’T BELONG HERE’ at Bong The Gallery, Phnom Penh Cambodia. 180° at MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space is their second exhibition as a collective.
So Sothsovankong / KWN23
(born 1998, Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia) So Sothsovankong is a self-taught graffiti artist. His practices include graffiti, film and painting. In 2017 he worked as an assistant and graffiti artist for PAINT PHNOM PENH Project at The Factory Phnom Penh. In the same year he played the lead character of Sok Chan Rado’s “White Wall,” a short film-selected for screening at the Chaktomuk Film Festival 2017. In 2018 he was selected by Java Creative Café as Creative Generation 2018 and exhibited “Light at the End of the Tunnel”. His work has also been exhibited internationally in Tokyo as part of the group exhibition “Being No-one, Going Nowhere”. KWN23 currently works for Sa Sa Art Projects, a Cambodian artist-run space, lives and works in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Shanghai Chang
(born 1996, Phnom Penh, Cambodia) Shanghai Chang is a conceptual fashion designer and visual artist. He graduated with a BA from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Fashion Design and Photography. His practice includes conceptual fashion design, photography, experimental film and installation. His conceptual fashion has been exhibited at Java Creative Café as part of ‘Creative Generation 2017’ and his solo exhibition, “Dancer in the Dark”. 2018 was a very fruitful year for Shanghai: he was in-residency artists at Kon Len Khnom Art Space, and his short movie “mélancolie (n.)” was screened during International Film Festival 2018 in Phnom Penh and selected for “S-Express Cambodia 2018”. He also exhibited in Tokyo as part of group exhibition “Being Noone, Going Nowhere” and in Meta House in “Plastic Kingdom” group exhibition. He is the founder and lead designer behind ‘WINDOWSEAT’ a conceptual fashion and creative menswear label produced in Phnom Penh where he currently resides.
Many Sin
(born in 1990, Battambang Province, Cambodia) Many is a self-taught contemporary artist whose work includes installation, painting, sculpture and photography. He graduated with a BA in Banking and Finance from the University of Battambang. He has worked closely with SA SA BASSAC as an exhibition attendant. He was selected by Java Creative Café to produce his first solo show in 2018 entitled: “Sign”. In 2018 he also participated in two group exhibitions. “Personnes and Espace’ was held at the French Institute of Cambodia in Phnom Penh and in Tokyo his work was part of ‘Being Noone, Going Nowhere’. He currently works as a curatorial assistant for multiple art projects in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Artist Talk with Sao Sreymao
Opening Night: January 11, 2019 at 6:00 pm
Join the Artist talk with Sao Sreymao, accompanying the exhbition “Under The Water”. Environmental and social concerns have been at the center of Sreymao’s practice. In her work the artist depicts changes taking place in the communities living along the Tonle Sap Lake and the Mekong River, effects of climate change, overfishing and dam construction. She documents villages once full of life, now turned deserted, abandoned by its inhabitants looking for work elsewhere, decaying food security and endangered livelihoods, especially due to the building of hydroelectric dams in the Lower Mekong Basin. The dams were to bring the economic growth and increase energy security, but turned disastrous for the entire ecosystem with villages disappearing and families being evicted.
“Under the Water” is a dreamy representation of one of such villages, completely submerged under water with its five thousand inhabitants, including large number of indigenous Punong living by the banks of Sesan River being relocated, leaving everything behind.
Sao Sreymao’s research for Under the Water exhibition is supported by Dam Dos Grant of Cambodian Living Arts. The exhibition is made possible through the support from Rei Foundation. The current exhibition is a partnership between Sa Sa Art Projects and MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space.
Exhibition "Under The Water" by Sao Sreymao
On Show: January 12 – February 12, 2019
Opening Night: Friday January 11, 2019 at 6:00 pm
“Under The Water” presents the latest series of digital sketch on photograph work and a new installation by Sao Sreymao. Poetic as much as haunting, Sreymao constructs images of changing and disappearing communities along the Mekong River and its tributaries in the northern part of Cambodia that are affected by human-made environmental degradation.
In addition to the prints, Sreymao also presents an installation work: a cluster of small house and human sculptures made of candle wax that are to be lit at the exhibition opening.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Sao Sreymao (born 1986, Site 2 refugee camp, Thai border) graduated from Phare Ponleu Selpak’s School of Visual and Applied Arts, Battambang province in 2006, and was a participant of Sa Sa Art Projects’ Contemporary Art Class in 2016. Her multi-disciplinary practice includes painting, photography, digital drawing, sculpture and performance. Her works explore personal expression and memories, as well as the changing physical and psychological landscapes of Cambodian urban and rural communities. She has also collaborated with various writers in visual storytelling and published a number of graphic novels.
Sreymao was an artist fellow of Sylt Foundation to undertake a residency in Sylt, Germany in 2017. She is also a recipient of Dam Dos Grant 2018 of Cambodian Living Arts. Her most recent group exhibitions and performances include Day Dream, Khmer Sense (2018); Body of Sorrow, Sa Sa Art Projects (2018); Facing the Climate Change, the Ministry of Environment of Cambodia (2018) and Embassy of Sweden (2017); and Kraanh Norneal, Sa Sa Art Projects (2017).
Sao Sreymao’s research for Under the Water exhibition is supported by Dam Dos Grant of Cambodian Living Arts. The exhibition is made possible through the support from Rei Foundation. The exhibition is a partnership between Sa Sa Art Projects and MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space.
2018
Pop Up Shop: Christmas Cards + Live Portraits
December 21 – 25, 2018
At MIRAGE, WILD Creative Bar & Eatery, and Atmosphere
Can you imagine celebrating Christmas without X-mas card? We can’t! We partnered up with five amazing Cambodian artists to produce Christmas cards limited only to 100 copies. Meet the artists, MIRAGE team and celebrate the festive season with us!
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:
Channa Chhum (FB: Channa Art)
Monnyreak Ket (IG: ketmonnyreak)
Sonich Touch (IG: sonich.jpg)
Tus Sakan (IG: tussakan_art)
Uddam Pen (IG: penkuro)
Get your personal portrait for your special Christmas:
LIVE Portrait Sessions with Channa Chhum and Tus Sakan
Your very unique portrait by Cambodian artists for just 10 $ (each additional person +5$)
SCHEDULE:
Friday & Saturday, December 21 & 22
4:00 – 7:00pm at MIRAGE
Sunday, December 23
11:00am – 3pm at Footprints Cafe
Sunday, December 23
4:00pm – till late at Atmosphere Siem Reap
WORLD PRESS PHOTO Exhibition 2018
On Show: December 16, 2018 – January 7, 2019
Opening Night: Friday December 15, with the presence of Yi Wen Hsia, the exhibition manager and curator of the World Press Photo Foundation
For the second time, the award-winning images of the annual World Press Photo Contest will be on show in Cambodia as part of the 14th Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops. The World Press Photo Contest is one of the world’s most prestigious contests of photojournalism, which awards photographers for the best images contributing to the past year of visual journalism.
MIRAGE is thrilled to host this travelling exhibition, unique in its kind, visiting around 100 cities in about 45 countries all over the year. “Photography is still quite new to Cambodia, so I hope this exhibition will inspire the next generation of Cambodian photographers”, says Serey Siv, director of MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space.
The World Press Photo Foundation receives support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery and is sponsored worldwide by Canon.
The exhibition in Siem Reap takes place in the scope of 14th Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops.
Read more details on our Facebook-Event
Watercolor Painting Workshop with Chhum Channa "Your Life"
Saturday December 8, 2018
Morning Workshop: 09:30 am – 11:30 am
Afternoon Workshop: 04:00 pm – 06:00 pm
This workshop is inspired by Channa’s approach in his series “My Life”: you will dedicate your time and awareness to an object that is a part of your everyday life. With the patient guidance of Channa, you’ll learn techniques on how to create your own artwork with watercolors, honoring this daily object that is always there but often overlooked.
INCLUDED
– Watercolor painting workshop with Channa Chhum
– Material (brushes, paper, paints, etc)
– Drinking water to refill your bottles
– Workshop is conducted in Khmer & English language
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING
– An object or a photograph of an object of your choice (can be on your smartphone!). It can be anything that is part of your daily life and you would like to paint.
– patience and an open mind 🙂
– water bottle/cup to refill with drinking water
– smartphone charger or a power bank: painting may involve looking several times at a photograph on your phone and you don’t want to miss the last touches on your painting just because your battery died
– $30 on the event day ($25 early bird) workshop fee per person
BOOKING & INFORMATION:
Artist Talk with Chhum Channa
Monday December 3, 2018 at 6:00pm
Discover our current exhibition “My Life” and meet the watercolor artist Channa Chhum. Let Channa guide you through his most recent body of work, the captivating paintings of Cambodian flora. Learn the story behind his creations and how the plants represent his life and the lives of other Cambodian artists.
At MIRAGE, we strongly believe in art as an educational tool. We provide regular guided art tours by Khmer Artists accessible for everyone. Participation is free, however, your voluntary donations are welcome and will be given directly to the artist and support him in creating his new artworks.
The tour and artist talk will be conducted in Khmer with English language support.
Exhibition "My Life" by Chhum Channa
On Show: November 16 – December 10, 2018
Opening Night: Friday, November 16, 2018 at 6:00pm
MIRAGE Contemporary Art Space” proudly presents a new series of watercolor paintings by Chhum Channa.
We also give you three reasons to celebrate this Friday:
1. We are re-opening in our new location on Oknha Oum Chhay Street,
2. It is our second anniversary
3. You will have a unique chance to shape the exhibition and gallery space itself
How?
Join us for the reception to find out!
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Channa Chhum is a watercolour artist from Battambang and Phare Ponleu Selpak graduate, ‘My Life’ is an exhibit of the artist’s newest work and marks an important change in his style of expression, shifting its focus away from the Cambodian rural landscape towards nature.
“Each individual painting in this body of work is related to my personal life story, grown upon maltreatment, discouragement, and discrimination. I want people to understand what lies at the roots of these emotions and the feelings which sprout from them.”
– Chhum Channa
Canapé & Wine provided by Wine O’clock – CAFE & DELI BAR – 24hours
Live AV Performance: "The Eye of Time + disastertourist"
October 3 2018, at The Village Cafe
A collaboration between MIRAGE & The Village Cafe
The Eye of Time is the solo-project of the French musician, Marc Euvrie. His new album ‘Myth II: A Need To Survive’, released 3rd August on Denovali Records, is the second part of a trilogy of releases about the path that humanity takes over the ages. A multi-layered tapestry of experimental sound, ‘Myth II: A Need To Survive’ merges darkness and hope via minimalist beats and stark bass.
On ‘Myth II: A Need To Survive’, Marc adds: “The period between the release of the first two records of this trilogy is a most significant one in my life. ‘A Need To Survive’ is the perfect title to name it. I have fought the darkness. I have faced myself. I’ve been into the deep and dark introspective periods but I’m on my way to recovery, and I will never be the same again. I guess I have faced the worst but those are the most important periods that anyone can face in their life. To know yourself better, you have to see the bad and the good things you’re capable of.”
Euvrie’s musical development is deeply connected with the French DIY punk and hardcore scene, although he has been classically trained. He started to play piano at 9 years old, composed his first pieces at 15 and studied cello at a Conservatoire after finishing school. Euvrie played in several bands and was heavily influenced by Claude Debussy, Philip Glass, Frederic Chopin, J.S. Bach, Michael Nyman just as much as alternative bands such as Godspeed You Black Emperor, A Silver Mt. Zion and Portishead. He began to translate his personal reflection of our complex world into music, which initiated The Eye of Time project.
His extensive self-titled debut album was released in spring 2012 and exposed a dark look on the present, past and future. His last albums were promising a glimpse of hope (‘Acoustic’) or pitch-black despair (‘Anti’). ‘Myth I: A Last Dance For The Things We Love’, released in 2016, dealt with introspection, impregnated with minimalistic moments, where piano and cello write the story of loneliness and calm, accompanied by both grim and hopeful melodies.
Live Podcast "Sa'ART"
Wednesday September 26, 2018 at 8:00 – 10:00pm
The chickens are back this week and we’re talking all about art! What are our personal definitions of art? What does it mean to be an artist? Come and join the fun at Mirage, weds 8pm! Their latest episode ”Sa’ART” speaks all about art and artistry, with Serey Siv and Jessica Lim.
Listen to the replay of the Chicken Coop’s Podcast:
Go Skateboarding Day 2018
Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 6:00 – 10:00pm
Come and celebrate the first Go Skateboarding Day at Mirage Art Space & Cafe. Meet and greet the young radical skaters of Siem Reap!
Enjoy bites and drinks all night long:
$2 falafel sandwiches by Atmosphere (culinary chef Moh)
$2.5 cocktails by In The Mix (mixology mastermind Vira)
SCHEDULE:
– DIY Quarter Ramp Jam: 6:00 pm
– Doodle and Win: 6:00 pm
– Game of Skate | ChoiSeung Hyun Ttop VS Hoy Changhong: 7:00 pm
– Siem Reap Movie Premiere: Converse Purple (46:11): 7:15 pm
– GIVEAWAYS! (skateboard, apparel, stickers, etc): 8:00 pm
Group Exhibition "Cross Over Vol. 4"
On Show in Siem Reap: March 17 – 25, 2018
On Show in Yangon: April 4 – 8, 2018
Group Exhibition with Peddy Pot Kajitani Ryo, Hara Shintaro, Kagawa Lino, Miyake Shinnosuke, Tsubakimoto Takuya, Muramatsu Fumika and Akima Shiori from Japan.
Exhibition "Made You Look" by Jo Peel, Tamara Venn and Christopher Jarratt
Private View: Thursday, 15 March 2018 from 6:00pm
Opening Night: Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 6:00pm
On Show: February 16 – March 16, 2018
Join us for a exhibition of new works by the three British artists Jo Peel, Tamara Venn and Christopher Jarratt. Developed over the past two months, each artist has interpreted their experience in Cambodia and responded to the environment in order to create unique artworks for a new exhibition.
The juxtaposition of Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage sitting alongside a vibrant developing scene lends itself to diverse responses, which has informed their individual take on this beautiful country of many faces.
JO PEEL
Jo Peel spends her time documenting in great detail her fascination with everyday scenes and scenarios. From abandoned east London construction sites to the streets of Tokyo and Pittsburgh, all are captured in her well observed and uniquely executed style. By drawing, Peel offers her view that these cityscapes are as important to the topographic psyche as the organic beauty of the nature surrounding them. This is not finding beauty in the dust; this is offering a new language to understand what is beautiful.
www.jopeel.com
TAMARA VENN
Recently relocated to Siem Reap. Tamara’s work takes influence from contemporary culture and natures vibrant illustrative aesthetic. Her work can be spotted on various walls around Siem Reap.
www.tamara-venn.com
CHRISTOPHER JARRATT
Christopher’s work draws on play, colour theory, semaphore and storytelling to create unique artworks and installations. Christopher’s work often straddles the grey area between art, design, community and the built environment, encouraging the exploration of our imagination. He has worked with leading brands, charities and institutions to delivering large-scale community artworks and public installations in a range of materials and techniques. Christopher’s award winning work has gained international recognition and has been extensively published and exhibited worldwide.
www.christopherjarratt.com
Exhibition "Dancers" by Colin Grafton
Opening Night: Tuesday January 2, at 6:00pm
On Show: January 2 – February 2, 2018
On the occasion of a rare classical dance performance during the Cambodian civil war 44 years ago, a photographer wandered into the theatre dressing room and took a few candid photos. The dancers didn’t notice him. 33 years later, one of them met him by chance in Tokyo, Japan, where she had come to perform. This led to a chain of events whereby other dancers in those pictures were rediscovered one by one when the photographer finally returned to Cambodia. Their stories of hardship, perseverance and survival, and the renaissance of the dance, which is the spirit of Cambodia, form the core of this exhibition. Other images from the same period (1973 – 1974) provide a backdrop to convey the feeling of the times.
Colin Grafton traveled overland to Asia in 1969. He taught English and took photographs in Laos (1970 – 1972) and Cambodia (1972 – 1975). He went to Japan, taught overseas volunteers until 1980, then returned to Thailand to work with Cambodian refugees. He held his first exhibition on Cambodia in the UK in 1981. Later he returned to Japan, where he did several photo exhibitions on Laos & Cambodia. He came back to Cambodia on a visit in 1992 and has been resident in Phnom Penh since 2014.
2017
Closing Night, Film Projection and Q & A with Sopheap Suong
Friday, December 29, 2017 at 6:00pm
Join us at MIRAGE for the closing night of George Nickels’ photo exhibition ‘The Human Cost’ for a short documentary film screening and a Q & A on migration.
HOMEWARD by Mario Piredda (born 1980) | Italy, Cambodia | 2015 | 35′
Watch Trailer
The Khmer who live in northwestern Cambodia want to cross the border with Thailand, to improve their economic and social conditions. The most immediate way is the irregular migration. The protagonists are involved in the activities run by GVC in Cambodia, co-financed by EU and other donors, to contrast the human trafficking, and to promote the topic of migration as an empowering opportunity.
Q & A SESSION ON MIGRATION with Sopheap Suong
Read Biography
Mr Sopheap is a regional manager of CWCC or provincial project manager for Migra Action. He has involved on issue of migration since 2006 up to now to protect and promote the rights of migrant workers and their families through direct intervention, capacity building, and joint researches and advocacy at local, national and regional levels.
Pop Up Fair "Design Vol. 1"
Friday December 15, 3:00 – 9:00pm
Saturday December 16, 9:00am – 3:00pm
Pop in to our Pop Up Design Fair at Mirage Siem Reap, and discover fresh designs made in Cambodia. Locally based designers will present you their recent work, and you have the chance to buy beautiful gifts for yourself or family – from handwoven baskets, custom-tailored apparel to live-painted postcards.
Have a drink or coffee, hang out with friends, treat yourself with a gift or two, and simply get inspired by all that creativity here in Siem Reap.
PARTICIPANTS
Ashi-亜紙-
Discover the many different shapes Banana Papers can take.
Ashi brings you beautifully designed laptop cases, coasters and more.
Cambodia Knits
You don’t have to be a kid to fall in love with this lovely knitted creatures. Quality products made with quality materials—each individual animal created with the same care and attention that hopefully you will give once you take it home!
Chhum Channa
Channa’s beautiful watercolor art stands out from the crowd with its strong contrasts and love to the detail. Watch this talented man creating a postcard just for you during the event, and get to send an unique artwork home to your family and friends.
Kabah
Upgrade your wardrobe for the coming high-season! This new clothing store in town brings you stylish but affordable basics, all made in Cambodia.
MANAVA
Come and see yourself what happens when traditional Khmer art meets clean Dutch design.
Manava brings you high quality rattan-baskets and other wanna-have objects, handwoven by amazingly skilled women outside Siem Reap.
MIRAGE COLLECTIVE
Apart from being a Cafe and Art Space, Mirage is also a collective of artists based in Siem Reap. Check out what we are creating in our shared studio everyday! For example the minimal card holders, handmade on the spot by our lovely co-founder Kyungmin – and much more to come!
Norea Decor Products
Not only develops Norea beautiful interior for Hotels and Spas together with less fortunate kids, but they also apply a “nose-to-tail” philosophy to the used material for commercial projects:
leftovers are transformed into gorgeous mini-lamps, cushions and bookshelves.
OFF TRACK Accessories
All the OFF TRACK accessories are handmade by KKO (Khmer for Khmer Organization), out of bicycle tubes and tires, re-using the material from their in-house countryside tours and turning them into awesome handbags that will last you for much longer than one high season. Upcycling at its best!
Saboo Sabay サブーサバイ
Discover a carefully curated selection of natural products: Cambodian spices, tea and 100% natural and handmade soap. Time to treat yourself!
Sarong
Meet this inspirational lady and talented tailor who recently opened her own shop in Siem Reap despite all possible challenges. This weekend, she will present you her newest collection, influenced by the stylish golden years of Cambodian Rock N Roll.
Sonas
This organization believes in empowering local artisans, and the outcome are high quality accessories from 100% naturally dyed Cotton which feel great, not only on your skin.
Tribal Roots
Hand-crafting with love: Tribal Roots brings you accessories made from stones, brass, copper, leather, feathers, and more – inviting you you to rediscover the beauty in being Bohemian. Find your Spirit Stone, or get to wear beautiful Henna on your hands, and colorful braids in your hair.
Woodcut Printmaking Workshop by Rico Leong
Sunday November 26, 2017 at 9:00am – 12:00pm
Rico Leong is a Sabah-born illustrator venturing into wood-cut as a medium of expression. Shifting gears from illustration, Rico translates his work through woodcarving and curating woodcut workshops to share with others on the traditional process of woodcut printing on both fabric and rice paper. Many of his illustrations can be found as cover art for local musicians in the punk scene, which is a subculture that holds an important position for what he stands for alongside personal experiences and opinions.
Rico will be conducting a workshop session to share what goes into the process of woodblock printing. There will also be detailed demonstrations to guide participants each step along the way, from woodblock to print. Participants will be introduced to woodcarving tools and explore various carving techniques, ink impression, and the traditional way of printing on fabric.
Booking required.
Materials provided, all you need to bring is good spirit.
Live AV with Lafidki + Pisitakun [Chinabot]
Thursday, November 23, 2017 at 8:00 – 11:00pm
Mirage is proud to present Lafidki (Cambodia) + Pisitakun (Thailand) two multi-disciplined artists and members of Chinabot, on the 23/11/2017 for a night of experimental music and live projections. Chinabot are a platform and collective whose mission is to change the dialogue surrounding Asian music.
“In 2017, a digital diaspora community, a multi-disciplinary label and network of Asian artists decided to cooperate on a new way to collect and promote exciting Asian music. We want to show a slice of what we like, the cultures we come from and our own ideas. We’re an online community and a virtual home celebrating the music that falls between the gaps — a place for adventurous listening.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Chinabot is positioned at the junction point between the influence of Asian music on contemporary/traditional sounds, music outside the mainstream and the development of experimentation. We work with composers, sound artists, improvisers and musicians to develop projects that rearrange the furniture of the musical world. We want to question our assumptions about what music is and where it can go.“
Read more:
chinabot.co
Mixmag Asia
LAFIDKI (Cambodia):
Lafidki (Saphy Vong) is a sound artist and conceptual collagist who is based in London and performs around the world. His music is an confluence of ideas, synthesising multiple underrepresented histories, geographies, musical genres and cultural signifiers into compelling, colourful sonic material that packs contemporaneous dancefloor weight.
LAFIDKI played international festivals VIA 2012 (Pittsburgh), Nuit blanche – French Institute 2016 (Kyoto/Japan) ,Siam Museum (Bangkok/Thailand), Sonic Moon (Hanoi/Vietnam), Electrona (Hobart/Tasmania), represented Cambodia at Tallinn Music Week.. And shared stage w/ Hype Williams, KXP, Lydia Lunch, James Ferraro, Maria Minerva, Molly Nilsson, Andy Stott, Com Truise, Laurel Halo.
PISITAKUN (Thailand):
Pisitakun Kuantalaeng was born in 1986 and raised in Thailand. He studied fine art at B.F.A. Sculpture, Department Of Fine Arts, King-Mongkut’s Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang, Bangkok, Thailand.
“From the time I began making art, my work has grown out of my lived experience. I investigate my experiences, seeking their histories and structures. I try to connect these personal qualities to the larger experience of the audience. I use a variety of techniques and mediums informed by the concept of each work. I love humour and use it to engage with history, politics, economics and popular culture. My work consciously follows the questions and scenarios that arise through its making. Public, private, personal and mass Histories are my subject matter. History helps me understand the present.”
Street Photography Exhibition & Grand Opening: "Innocence"
Opening Night & Live Curation: Friday, November 17, 2017 at 6:00 – 11:00pm
On Show: November 18 – December 13, 2017
Join the opening night of “Innocence”, to see young Siem Reap based Khmer artists curate their first photo exhibition. The selected photographs are the winners of our open call: “Innocence”. The live-curation will be live-streamed the show on Facebook.
Open Call Submission Deadline: November 12, 2017 (11:59pm GMT +7)
Send submission to miragesiemreap@gmail.com