AsiaLIFE

Young, determined, and most of all talented, the Stiev Selapak artists’ collective is developing into a big player in the Cambodian contemporary arts scene. Nora Lindstrom talks to founding members Lim Sokchanlina and Heng Ravuth.

Six twenty-something youths, one shared dream: to show that original, contemporary Cambodian art is alive and well, and above all, sells. Established in 2007, the Stiev Selapak collective is a unique group of young artists brought together by a passion for art and determination not to spend their lives duplicating the works of others.

“We wanted to show what young Cambodian artists can do, there is no need to copy,” says Lim Sokchanlina (Lina), 23. He argues many of his contemporaries think the only way to earn a living is by replicating traditional art, and thus often end up working at the galleries on Street 178 directly opposite their alma mater, the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA). Not so Lina, Heng Ravuth, Kong Vollack, Khvay Samnang, Vandy Rattana, and Vuth Lyno, six young men who focus on creating new bodies of work exploring a changing Cambodia.

Lina is not an arts graduate, having completed a degree in economics at Norton University before turning to photography. “My themes tend to be about the world, society, and how people are living now,” he says. “I focus on modern themes and issues.” Examples of his work include a self-portrait that explores gender and sexual identity issues which recently featured at the ‘What a Difference and Difference Makes’ exhibition at National Museum, as well a series of photographs entitled ‘My Motorbike & Me’, again with himself appearing in all photos.

Ravuth similarly likes to feature himself in his work. “I want to show my daily life,” he says. “I want to connect myself to the subject.” A graduate from RUFA, Ravuth switched from painting to photography following a series of workshops with photographer Stephane Janin, during which most of the founding members of Stiev Selapak met.

Ravuth says he wanted to join the arts collective in order to learn and share with the other members. Over the years, a strong bond has developed between him and the others. “We love each other and know each other, our goal is to go together,” he says.

To showcase their art, last year Stiev Selapak opened the Sa Sa Art Gallery, which they claim is the first artist-founded and operated gallery in Cambodia. In addition to hosting exhibitions by the collective as well as visiting artists, the gallery functions as a meeting point for young artists.

Not content with just one space, the dynamic group recently started the Sa Sa Project in the iconic municipal apartments known as the Building on Sothearos Boulevard. Describing it as an experimental space, Lina explains the studio provides residences to young artists whilst simultaneously bringing art into the community through workshops and other events.

“It was a conscious decision to get a space in the Building,” he says, acknowledging its history of accommodating artists. “We want to push young artists to express themselves.”

In the English press, Stiev Selapak is often translated to “Art Rebels”. Lina however explains the word “stiev” has a more dimensions in the Khmer language, originally referring to young cows. In reference to people, using the word can even be considered rude. “It means gangster,” Lina says, “but it’s also used for young people, meaning revolution, or modernity.”

Despite their avant-garde attitude, the art rebels have to take the political climate into account. Ravuth says he is not interested in making overtly political art, focusing on introspection instead. Lina’s subjects on the other hand hold more opinionated overtones, but he recognises the limits to freedom of expression in Cambodia. “I restrict myself, but not so much,” he says. “I make critical artworks, but I also keep myself safe. If I was in America, I could fly!”

Though America may not yet be on the map, members of Stiev Selapak are undoubtedly going places. They all have a solid portfolio of work for their age, having exhibited both together and solo at most galleries in town, as well as further afield in Australia, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Vandy Rattana is currently working in France, while Khvay Samnang is trying out his wings in Japan.
Still, the connection to the collective remains. “We will stay together for a long time,” Lina vows.

“We help each other reach international levels of art and want to make a network with others internationally.”

For more information about upcoming exhibitions and events at Sa Sa Gallery and Project, please visit www.sasaart.info