PHNOM PENH: A young Cambodian artist from the Cham community is using contemporary art to preserve cultural rituals that are gradually disappearing from everyday life, through her first solo exhibition in Phnom Penh.
The exhibition, titled Remembering, by Kaeu Sreypeou, presents 18 acrylic paintings inspired by traditional Cham Muslim ceremonies. Once widely practiced across Cambodia, they are now preserved by only a small number of communities.
Organised by SNA Arts Management, the exhibition runs from May 21 to August 8 at the organisation’s gallery space in Phnom Penh.
According to a SNA press release, the paintings revisit the Mawlid Festival — also known as the “Flower Festival of Solidarity” — and the Tolak bala cleansing ritual, ceremonies historically observed by Cham and Muslim communities throughout Cambodia.
Today, however, many of these traditions are no longer commonly practiced, except among Cham Bani communities and several Javanese-Malay communities in Kampot province.
“Through scenes depicting ritual preparations, food offerings, traditional cake-making and communal gatherings, Sreypeou reflects on memories from her own participation in the ceremonies while documenting elements of Cham cultural identity,” it explained.
“The works express a desire to help preserve the memories and cultural identity of her community,” it added.
Born in Kampong Chhnang province in 1998, Sreypeou studied visual arts at the Royal University of Fine Arts and graduated in 2023. Her recent artistic work has focused heavily on stories and traditions connected to the Cham people.
She previously participated in exhibitions including Saving Cham Culture at Meta House and recently completed an artist residency programme at United Yoga Asia exploring narratives from Cham communities.
The exhibition also reflects a broader movement among young Cambodian artists who are increasingly using contemporary art to explore memory, identity and cultural preservation, particularly within minority communities facing social and cultural change.
In a statement included in the press release, SNA Arts Management noted that its mission is to connect Cambodian contemporary artists with local and international audiences while promoting the country’s visual arts sector. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
