With the participation of Vann Nath, Séra, Both Sonrin, Chea Serey Roth, Chin Borey, Khun Sotha, Kong Channa, Lim Sokchan Lina, Nov Cheanick, Pen Robit, Phe Sophon and Sou Sophy.
Phnom Penh, The Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center November 19 – December 26, 2009 Preview: November 19 2009 at 6 p.m. Battambang, French Cultural Center January 8 – February 7, 2010 Preview: January 8 2010 at 5 p.m. 
Because of its symbolic resonances, art has a role to play in the elaboration of the collective trauma and in the reconstruction of a memory more respectful of forgotten victims. With this aim in mind, two “memory workshops” were organized in June 2008 and in January 2009 at the Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center. Their purpose was to reconsider the recent Cambodian history through artistic production by making young artists confront with archival images and direct verbal testimonies of genocide survivors. Two of the greatest Cambodian artists, Vann Nath and Séra, worked with ten young visual artists from the Phare Ponleu Selpak School, from the Royal University of Fine Arts, and from the Reyum Institute’s School of Arts. Beyond the singularity of their biographical paths and their testimonies on the unspeakable, the practices of Vann Nath and Séra opened up to action and thought new fields of experience and sharing. Different in their esthetic approaches and techniques, they offered new perspectives on the work done as a team to the young Cambodian artist’s. Retroactively some thirty drawings, paintings, and photographs reveal how these artists have identified with past events and how they highlight, through the play of constructions and formal transformations, the way in which they were personally involved in the project. The diversity and the polysemy of their works testify as well to the passage from the I to the we, from a personal lived experience to a greater collective awareness. Finally, this exhibition gives an account of the dynamism and creative energy of three Cambodian artists’ generations. Events At the Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center, Phnom Penh On Thursday, November 19 2009
- Press conference at 4 p.m. in the presence of the artists and the person in charge of the “memory workshops”.
- First public performance of the Guillaume Suon Petit’s documentary film, which last 38 minutes, about the creation’s process and the testimonies of Vann Nath and Séra, exchanging with their young partners about yesterday’s and today’s Cambodia.
- Preview at 6 p.m.
From November 20 to December 26, 2009 - Audiovisual archives selected around the theme “Memory, archives and creation” (MAC) by Gaëtan Crespel and Sophorn Lim are programmed every Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Bophana Center. In the same prospect, Guillaume Suon Petit’s documentary film, Cambodia, the Memory Workshop, will be shown on Saturday, November 21 (at 4 p.m.), followed by a debate with Soko Phay-Vakalis on the whole MAC project.
At the French Cultural Center, Battambang On Friday, January 8 2010 - Round table “Cross-views on Arts and Memory” at 4 p.m., in the presence of the artists of the “Memory Workshops”, of the stage actors of the Théâtre du Soleil’s members taking part in the Cambodian creation of The terrible but unfinished story of Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia (Hélène Cixous), of Ashley Thompson (University Of Leeds) and of Soko Phay-Vakalis (Paris 8 University).
- Preview at 5 p.m.
Publication - Trilingual publication (French/English/Khmer) of the book Cambodia, the Memory Workshop, designed to make texts and images constantly relate to each other. It brings together contributions intended to broaden reflection on the roles of art and testimony confronted with the tragedy. Preface by Rithy Panh and Agnès Sénémaud, afterword by Ashley Thompson and texts by Soko Phay-Vakalis, Pierre Bayard, Richard Rechtman and an interview with Vann Nath and Séra by Anne-Laure Porée. - The booklet goes with a trilingual DVD (French/English/Khmer) directed and produced by Bophana Production and the Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center, which contains the eponymous documentary by Guillaume Suon Petit, as well as a bonus. Editorial director: Soko Phay-Vakalis Artistic direction: Séra In co-production with the Bophana Center, Paris 8 University, and Sonleuk Tchmey. Partners The “Memory Workshops” were organized by Soko Phay-Vakalis with the help of Pierre Bayard, within the framework of the program entitled “Memory, Archives, and Creation. Part 2” (MAC 2) The exhibitions as well as the entire MAC 2 project enjoyed the support of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), of Paris 8 University Vincennes-Saint-Denis, of the Maison des Sciences de l’Homme Paris Nord, of the Arts Network Asia (ANA), and of the communication agency Around Design. Contacts Paris 8 University, Person in charge of the “memory workshops”: Soko Phay-Vakalis soko.phay@univ-paris8.fr www.ateliersdelamemoire.org Bophana (Audiovisual Resource Center) 64, street 200, Phnom Penh Tel: 855 (0) 23 99 21 74 info@bophana.org www.bophana.org French Cultural Center of Battambang N° 477, group 41, Village of Preak Mohatep, Commune of Svay Por, District of Battambang, Province of Battambang Tel/Fax: (855) (0) 53 952 897 battambang@ccf-cambodge.org Phare Ponleu Selpak and the Sonleuk Thmey Editions Mao Kosal Tel: (855) (0) 53 952 424 /17 88 20 54 sonleukthmey@phareps.org |
FOR THE PUBLIC 
