Opening night in Cartagena, Tuesday 1 December

IMPACT was on display all week at the Cartagena Summit, but an evening reception was held on Tuesday 1 December to highlight the exhibit. Senior-level representatives from Cambodia, Australia, and the United Nations Mine Action Team (co-hosts of the exhibit) provided remarks. Tun Channareth, a landmine survivor and International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) Ambassador who accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the ICBL in 1997, kindly agreed to serve as MC at the last minute.

Here’s a photo of the speakers (pictured from left to right are UNDP Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery´s Senior Deputy Director Miguel Bermeo, Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority Vice President H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Australia´s Ambassador for Disarmament and Permanent Representative to the United Nations at Geneva Caroline Millar, and Tun Channareth):

And the audience (it was packed):

Cartagena Summit President Susan Eckey of Norway also came to the event:
Since the exhibit was next to the press room, it also served as a backdrop for interviews throughout the conference. ICBL Youth Ambassador Song Kosal was interviewed several times in front of the artwork:

As was Tun Channareth:

The exhibit goes up in Cartagena

Hello from Cartagena, where we had another great opening of IMPACT. We were originally told we couldn’t hang anything from the wall or ceiling (which is difficult when installing an art exhibit of paintings and hanging sculptures), but when we got to the Convention Center, the staff couldn’t have been more helpful and accommodating.

First we unpacked everything:

Then the Convention Center staff helped hang it all (with lots of hand gestures and pointing):

Landmine Monitor release in Battambang

Last week, the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines organized the Landmine Monitor Report 2009 release in at the Jesuit Service center in Battambang, which doubled as a send-off event for representatives from Cambodia headed to Cartagena for the Second Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty. Hundreds of survivors and people living in mine-affected communities attended the event, as did representatives from the Cambodia Campaign to Landmines, the Australian Embassy, the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Center, and UNDP Cambodia.


In addition to sharing relevant information from the Landmine Monitor, the interfaith event included dancing, singing and moving words from survivors and people active in the campaign to ban landmines and cluster bombs.

Ms. Song Kosal opened the event (she'll also be opening the global conference), then representatives from Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian communities gave their blessings.

Next, there was a beautiful Apsara (the traditional dance in Cambodia) wheelchair dance:

The dancers served as an inspiration for Spanish volunteer Maria, who designed the logo:

Next, Sister Denise Coghlan provided an overview of key findings, followed by Man Sokheunn, a young survivor who was featured in a book by award-winning Spanish artist Gervasio Sanchez. He spoke about the importance of banning landmines.

Representatives from the Australian Embassy and the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority also gave remarks.

The event closed with a performance of the landmine dance, which was created in Banteay Preap in 1996 but continues to be performed.

IMPACT article on the UNDP Cambodia website

Another article about IMPACT was just posted on UNDP Cambodia's website. You can see it here.

IMPACT on Equity Weekly in Cambodia this Sunday and Monday

If you're in Cambodia, tune into TVK's Equity Weekly program this Sunday at 8 pm to see a feature on IMPACT.

If you're busy on Sunday, you can see the program when it's rebroadcast on Monday at noon.

Cartagena, Colombia, opening is set

If you happen to be in Cartagena, Colombia, the week of 30 November, please stop by the Cartagena Conference Center's Claustro de las Animas to check out IMPACT: an art exhibit about landmines in Cambodia.

If you want to hear more about the exhibit, come to the special reception on Tuesday 1 December from 18:00 to 18:45.

IMPACT will be on display throughout the Cartagena Summit on a Mine-Free World.

If you don't plan to be in Cartagena this December, perhaps you'll consider making the trip after seeing the photos here.

And they're off to Colombia

After the exhibit ended in Phnom Penh, a moving company came and took all of the pieces away. -- in an open-bed truck through the streets of Phnom Penh.

It made me a little nervous but I'm happy to report that all of the various artwork has either been sent to Colombia or safely stored for the next opening, wherever that may be...

more detailed photos of sculptures

Since the general shots of the some of the sculptures don't do them justice, I've uploaded more detailed photos to the old posts for:

Chhon Dina
Chhea Bunna
Ouk Chim Vichet

Enjoy!

IMPACT on Apsara TV: Tuesday 20 October at 7:30 am

For those of you in Cambodia, check out the Apsara TV station on Tuesday 21 October at 7:30 in the morning for a special feature on IMPACT.

For those not in Cambodia, check back here for international air dates, as Apsara TV also broadcasts globally.

Once it airs, I'll see what I can do to upload a clip to this site.

Mine Risk Education rap contest in Battambang

Just got back from a wonderful weekend in Battambang, where there was another event combining art and mine action for a good cause. This time the the art form was music, and it was used in a Mine Risk Education (MRE) rap contest for kids living in Rottanak Mondul (one of the most mine-affect districts in Cambodia).

A what?

Khmer djs Boomer, DJ Sdey, and MC Tola worked with the International Women's Development Agency (IWDA) to teach kids from three different villages rap skills -- while also integrating MRE messages. The groups then battled it out on stage, and the grand prize winners will appear in a new MRE radio ad.

The kids worked on their songs for months before finally performing in front of all of their friends and family (as well as representatives from the CMAA and various mine action organizations). You can read all about it in this Phnom Penh Post article.

My Khmer isn't exactly perfect but it all sounded good to me (and the kids were beyond excited to be up on stage).

Reporters from TVK's Equity Weekly television programme were there to film, and will do a special on both the rap contest and IMPACT. Will let you know when it's scheduled to air.

In total, it was 12 hours in the car over two days, but it was most definitely worth it.

Release in Khmer and English

Below is the Phnom Penh opening press release in Khmer. Over time, I hope to add all of the artist biographies and artwork descriptions in Khmer as well. It will take some time as most computers don't recognize Khmer font, so everything has to be uploaded as a jpeg (unless you have a better solution). Click on the release to enlarge to a readable size.

The English version is included for those of you who want to test your Khmer/English translation skills.

IMPACT in AsiaLIFE

In addition to featuring IMPACT on their website, AsiaLIFE has a nice article in their October print edition.

IMPACT online

The success of IMPACT's opening night was in no small part due to the great network of online resources about what's happening in Phnom Penh, including AsiaLife, Lady Penh, and the Expat Advisory. If you're looking for information about what's on in Cambodia, these are all useful sites.

IMPACT in the Phnom Penh Post

There's a nice article about IMPACT in the Phnom Penh Post, along with a beautiful shot of Vutha's triptych.

views of the exhibit at Bophana

Now that you've seen all of the individual artwork, here are some photos of how they came together in the exhibit.

Sot Visai's artwork

Sasha and Sovann worked with four young landmine survivors to create artwork representing their past experiences and their ambitions for the future. Each artist created one box. Inside each box, the artist painted the story of how his accident happened. On the outside of the box, the artist painted their ambitions for the future. The boxes are hung and people can stick their head inside to see the paintings.

Below is Sot Visai's story and a photo of his artwork.

I was born in Sompov Loun. I am 21 years old and the second of four brothers. My parents are farmers who grow rice, vegetables and some fruit. When I was young I took care of the cows and buffalo with the neighboring children, and I became a victim of an exploding landmine at the age of eight.

One morning, after I had tethered the cows and buffalos, four friends and I went for a walk to hunt for birds and crabs. We were very young and didn’t know about the danger of mines as there were not so many in our area and our parents had not told us about this danger.

My friends found a mine and picked it up because they thought it looked like a pineapple and wanted to play with it. I was quite a long way away from them, perhaps 20 meters. I didn’t know what they were playing with but a moment afterwards the mine exploded. Pieces of the mine hit my left leg and I fell unconscious. When I woke up I was in the hospital.

My mother told me three of my friends had died and one had lost her left arm. When I heard about my friends dying I cried a lot, and I cried even more because I had lost my left leg. I was in the hospital for about one and a half months and had nine operations. About six months later an organization helped my family by buying pigs and chickens for us to look after and sell in the market. After a year back home, my family moved to a different district called Ou Chrov in Banteay Meanchey province.

One day I was walking near my village and I met Aki Ra, who was with a Japanese journalist. Aki Ra was asking me about my accident and where I lived. I told him the story behind my accident and then he had to leave. That evening he came back to my see me at my house and all of my family was very surprised because they had never met him before. Then Aki Ra asked about the situation of my family and he suggested I came to live with him at the Cambodian Landmine Museum (CLMM) so I could get an education.

My parents thought this was a good idea and asked if I wanted to go, but it was only after a few days of thinking about it that I decided to do it. My parents were happy that I was going to get an education but were also very sad that I was leaving. I had never been away from my parents before.

A few days later Aki Ra came back and took me to Siem Reap. When I arrived in Siem Reap I felt very strange because it was full of foreigners and also because the landmine museum was full of lots of landmines on display, most of which I had never seen before. A few months later I started school. It was surprising for me because I had never studied before, and it was so different from life with my family. Now I have lived at the CLMM for nearly ten years and it has changed my life.

In the future I want to train to be an accountant in an office so I can learn more about how to keep finances and start my own business. My idea is to then start a small business as a tailor as I want to design fashionable clothes.

Hon Vichet's artwork

Sasha and Sovann worked with four young landmine survivors to create artwork representing their past experiences and their ambitions for the future. Each artist created one box. Inside each box, the artist painted the story of how his accident happened. On the outside of the box, the artist painted their ambitions for the future. The boxes are hung and people can stick their head inside to see the paintings.

Below is a Hon Vichet's story and a photo of his artwork.

I am 23 years old. When I was a child, my family lived in Kampong Cham. My father drank a lot and was quite violent, and I ran away when I was three years old. I stopped a car and asked the people to take me to Battambang where I lived on the streets for three years. Kind people gave me money to eat and I bought some polish and a brush and made some money polishing people's shoes outside restaurants.

One day a family asked me if I wanted to stay with them, so at the age of six I went to live in Svay village in Battambang (now Svay Sisophon in Banteay Meanchey). I looked after their five cows for two months before I had my accident. I had tied the cows up and went to have lunch and play with my friends. We ate sticky rice in banana leaves with prahok, very tasty!
I didn’t know that land had mines. It was about two kilometers away from my village, which is quite near the border with Thailand. While we were playing one friend stood on a landmine and pieces of the mine flew through the air and hit my leg. The friend who stood on the landmine died immediately, I fell unconscious, and my other friend went to get help.

People in the village made a stretcher with bamboo and material and carried me to the hospital about two kilometers away. I was already there when I woke up. I was so sad when I saw that I had lost my left foot.

Four months after my accident I went to Phnom Penh, where I lived on the streets for three years. When I was nine years, old Friends International started to take care of me but I left in 2002 at the age of 16 and made some money selling newspapers and magazines on the streets of Phnom Penh. About a year later, I met Aki Ra while I was walking the streets, and he asked me if I would like to live at the Cambodian Landmine Museum (CLMM). I moved to the CLMM and went to school to learn a lot of different things.

In 2008, I went to live in Siem Reap and earned money playing traditional music in Banteay Kdei temple. It was during a visit to see my friends back at the CLMM that I heard Aki Ra was sick. I went to see him and he asked me if I would like to train to be a deminer with his organization, Cambodian Self Help Demining (CSHD).

I have now learned about clearing the land of mines and am happy to be a deminer. In addition to demining, I still love music. Sometimes I dream of being a pop star. I would like to start my own band and play the keyboards.

Although I had some problems with my real parents I would really like to find them because I have not seen them or my sister for 20 years. I can’t remember their names as I was so young but I do remember they lived in Banteay Sup village in Kampong Cham.

Din Socheat's artwork

Sasha and Sovann worked with four young landmine survivors to create artwork representing their past experiences and their ambitions for the future. Each artist created one box. Inside each box, the artist painted the story of how his accident happened. On the outside of the box, the artist painted their ambitions for the future. The boxes are hung and people can stick their head inside to see the paintings.

Below is Din Socheat's story and a photo of his artwork.

My name is Din Socheat. I am 16 years old, and I had my accident when I was 15.

One day I was looking after my family’s cows in the fields near where we lived in Beang Ampil district. I saw something that looked like a toy so I reached down to pick it up and play with it. For a couple of hours I took it apart and put it back together, then took it apart again.

Suddenly the toy exploded in my hands. The explosion was so scary, I lost consciousness. When I woke up I managed to get up and walk the 30 meters back to my house. When my mother saw me, she cried and cried. She hadn’t thought anything of the sound of the explosion as mines quite often exploded in our area.

I kept thinking I must keep strong as I was losing a lot of blood. My mother went to find people that could help and I was carried on a stretcher to a hospital seven kilometers away. I fainted on the way and woke up in the hospital where they treated me for free in an emergency ward.

The bone was broken above my elbow and I had lost my left arm, three fingers and half of my thumb on my right hand. I felt hopeless and wanted to die. I was in the hospital for one and a half months and had 21 operations. When I got home I was given some help by an organization, including money to help my family.

While I was in the hospital they contacted the Cambodian Landmine Museum (CLMM) and one of the teachers from the CLMM came to see me and ask me if I wanted to live at the CLMM. When I left the hospital I was at home for a month and then in 2008 I moved to CLMM near Banteay Srei.

I have now lived at the CLMM for almost a year and have been going to school. I have decided I want to be a teacher of various subjects and also teach children about the danger of landmines. I want to give as much of my knowledge and experience to younger children so they can learn and have better opportunities when they grow older.

Cheat is the youngest of four siblings. His two older brothers live in Thailand working as laborers, and his sister is married and lives in the village where Cheat had the accident.

Chhin Boreak's artwork

Sasha and Sovann worked with four young landmine survivors to create artwork representing their past experiences and their ambitions for the future. Each artist created one box. Inside each box, the artist painted the story of how his accident happened. On the outside of the box, the artist painted their ambitions for the future. The boxes are hung and people can stick their head inside to see the paintings.

Below is Chhin Boreak's story and a photograph of his artwork.

There are fourteen people in my family, including five brothers, seven sisters and my mother and father. I am the fourth oldest. We live in Samraong village in Otdar Meanchey. My parents are farmers and grow rice and vegetables.

My village was surrounded by landmines. My parents used to tell me not to go far from the house but I didn’t believe them because I didn’t understand how dangerous the mines were. My family was very poor, and sometimes we would only have enough food to eat breakfast. We were hungry a lot of the time.

I would sometimes go walking in the countryside looking for fruit. One day, I walked towards a big tree and saw this thing that looked like a pineapple. I almost picked it up as I didn’t know what it was but my mother was calling me in a very strong voice telling me to come home. I didn’t listen to my mother because I wanted to see what this thing was.

I started to play with the thing. My mother could see so she went to try and find someone else in the village to try and stop me. I tried to open the mine and without knowing what I was doing started flicking the detonator with my right finger. When the mine exploded I was thrown backwards about five meters. My right arm had been blown off and fragments of the mine had hit my left leg.

My mother was in a state of shock as I walked back to the house, but she quickly got her strength back and shouted for help. She ran to get me, not thinking about herself as she entered the same minefield.

Other people arrived quickly and two old men carried me for two hours to an army hospital. Halfway there I fainted. I was moved to a provincial emergency ward where I had 16 operations over three months.

After my accident I lived at home for five years helping my family grow morning glory and cutting grass for the cows. During that fifth year, CMAC came to clear the village of mines.
One day I went to talk to a deminer I had been watching, and told him I had had my accident there. He told me about his brother Aki Ra and the Cambodian Landmine Museum, and said it would be a good place for me to go and live because I would be looked after and get an education. My parents’ village is now free of mines but we lost many people and many cows before it was cleared.

At that time I could only say “Hello, hello!,” but now I can speak English well and I am in grade seven at school. I love to play football and am good at singing. Actually, I have found I am good at many things and am grateful for these opportunities to learn. My family says I am very lucky. It is my ambition to become a tour guide so I can teach tourists about my country’s history. I especially love the carvings on the temples and the stories they tell.

Chhon Dina's artwork

Here is Chhon Dina's artwork.

This shattered life is also your problem

Approximately 90 (H) x 15 (W) x 15 (L) cm

Land mines destroy more than flesh and bone; they destroy the human heart and spirit. This sculpture portrays the tragic results of the colossal disrespect of both human life and the land itself. However, both sculptures also reveal that the land will eventually prevail over human destructiveness. Both are made of clay dug from Cambodian soil. Even though mines have been placed in this land, we can use it to make many beautiful things, just as land that has been cleared of mines can be used safely for farming.

And here are detailed photos of each element:

My land is cleared, my hope restored
Approximately 40 cm (L) x 30 (H) x 20 (W) cm

The buffalo and its owner represent restored normal life in the countryside: signs of hope. Countryside life is very hard work, but the buffalo is strong, patient and committed. He is connected to the land together with his owner and will help bring forth something good from the soil. I hope that this will encourage people in countries affected by mines to recover from the despair brought on by these weapons.

Ouk Chim Vichet's artwork

Here is Ouk Chim Vichet's artwork.

Blow to Grow
140 x 140 cm

The goal of this painting is to show the detonation of the mines collected from the land, “They can destroy mines but landmines cannot destroy them.” After the operators have cleared the land, people can start using it for farming.

The center of the painting signifies the detonation of the land mines which is the result of hours of work. Destroying the land mines brings enjoyment and pride to everyone.

The red and blue part of the painting represents the mines that will be destroyed. These mines have fooled some people with their glittering colors and valuable metal shells. Some people forget the dangers and try to tamper with the landmines. It is important that if anyone finds a landmine, they report it to the mine action operators.

The dark yellow and white colors represent the sign posts where mines have been destroyed and where the land is cleared. This land will be used to farm or plant crops. The land is in the shape of a water droplet which represents the priceless necessity of rain water. However, if there are mines on the land, the rain water is useless to people as they cannot collect it or use it for agricultural use.

Reminiscing Flower
Approximately 70 (W) x 70 (L) x 140 (H)Detail of the flowers:

This sculpture aims to express the fruitfulness of the mine clearing work by the operators who unrelentingly risk their lives to remove landmines. They have to work under the burning heat of the sun. It is their loyal duty to serve the nation and to free the land for the people to use. It is also with a sense of pride that Cambodians not only clear landmines in Cambodia but also in Sudan, Africa. They have to leave their homes and family to help people no matter what race they are. They need to ensure that people live without fear from landmines. Landmines are the enemies for the human race.

Chhim Sothy's artwork

Here is Chhim Sothy's artwork.

New Light

152 (L) x 100 (H) cm

Through my art work, my vision is to show the pain of the people in the area along the border with Thailand and the happiness that comes from demining. The central Buddhist figure represents the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, which coordinates all mine action activities in Cambodia to clear mine-contaminated areas. With the tireless efforts of the demining agencies, Cambodia’s land is being cleared from mines and people can feel safe once again. This makes the demining agencies unforgettable to the people.

To the left of the painting, the central figure is symbolically pushing away mines and explosive remnants of war which present danger to the people, and to the right it is embracing the happiness and development that come to the people when they have safe land.

Promised Land

76 (L)x 100 (H) cm

The long-lasting wars in Cambodia caused by internal conflicts have cost the lives of countless human and animals and also left behind a big burden for individual families and the nation as a whole. Landmines are the invisible killer that hinder development in mined areas.

This painting represents our appreciation to all the local and international mine clearance organizations that work together to remove landmines from the land. It is a celebration of their achievements. Some people living in former military bases risk their limbs and lives everyday. The people’s worry is the Government’s worry. Now, with humanitarian development, people living in previously mined areas can see the light and have hope for their future.

Ben Thynal's artwork

Here is Ben Thynal's artwork.

It's a Killer

110 x 110 cm

Landmines destroy everything from animals to humans when they step on or touch them. They injure or disable people and are sometimes fatal. In this painting, I want to urge everyone in the world, regardless of their race, to come together and abolish the use of landmines. Landmines impoverish both individual families and wider communities.

Sounds of Peace

110 x 110 cm

It is the sound of the destruction of landmines which also brings hope to the people living in mined areas. For every landmine destroyed, one or more lives are saved. The sound of landmines being destroyed also means the land becomes usable for the local community. When I first heard the sound of a landmine being detonated, it scared me, but after the sound dissipated it left a feeling of happiness and safety.

Em Riem's artwork

Here is Em Riem's artwork.

Ms KOE MAR and her daughter (mannequin and lunch box)

143 (H) x 43 (L) x 20 (W) cm
Untitled (Painting on burlap) 142 (L) x 142 (H) cm

My work consists of three different elements: one canvas, one mannequin and one little lunchbox. Each represents a constitutive aspect of the story told by this installation. A woman, mother of a girl today, was injured by a mine several years ago, before her marriage. The materials used are very simple. Thus, burlap painted with black acrylic represents the Cambodian earth, which contains, in its secret, a deadly danger: the mine. The red mannequin, who has one arm cut, is the victim. Red is the color of blood, but also for Asians it symbolizes prosperity and happiness. Finally, the bowl of iron, which is the most modest object you could imagine, symbolizes the child near her mother and the daily struggle to continue to live. It is also about hope, humbleness and strength.

This installation is telling a simple account of a horrible tragedy. But the people of Cambodia remain proud and dignified and have confidence in the future.

Since this mannequin red, it indicates that it is proudly standing.

Chhea Bunna's artwork

Here is Chhea Bunna's artwork.

Unvalued Drop of Water

Approx 120 (H) x 80 (W) x 80 (L) cm

Water is the most important liquid for living beings, but if we have land that is contaminated by landmines and cannot be used for farming, then water becomes useless in those areas. Landmines also make it impossible to access water sometimes. Water is then unvalued. The purpose of this sculpture is to show people that some areas have not yet been cleared of landmines.

Although I am an artist, I ask myself if I can feel the same as ordinary people living in mine-affected areas. This work also represents the tears of the villagers in contaminated areas. What I can do is recognize and support these people by spreading the message through this artwork.

Result

160 (H) x 48 (W) x 35 (L) cm

Detail of the rice husk, which consists of information about Cambodian mine action:

This sculpture shows the positive outcome for people when their land has been cleared of landmines. The happiness and enjoyment of safe land was not obtained by accident – it has been achieved through careful planning by mine action agencies and by reaching goals that they have set. By using the image of a rice husk, I wanted to show the happiness of the people through the imagination of an artist because now they can happily cultivate the land and grow rice.

Before this project started I had very limited knowledge about landmines, however, I am really glad to have learned more about mine action issues and now I understand how devastating it is for the people. It disables people, affects their livelihood and makes them feel excluded from other people. Eighty percent of Cambodians are farmers and landmines greatly affect agricultural production so it is really important for the mine action operators to be able to complete their tasks of clearing the land.

Srey Bandol's artwork

Here is Srey Bandol's artwork.

Sadness (APHORP)

120 (H) x 60 (L) cm

This painting is about the sadness and despair that the Cambodian people have felt after years of conflict. The broken frame at the top of the painting represents the start of the war which allowed mines to be brought into Cambodia and planted in conflict zones. The central image of the cow represents Cambodia and its people who have worried about war and the mines that littered the countryside. At the bottom are images of mines, BAN LAR LOUS means danger from mines. However, although there is danger, now, due to mine action programmes there is HOPE.

Success (CHHAI YOU)
120 (H) x 60 (L) cm

The focus of this painting is the figure in the middle which represents all the organizations and people that have made mine clearance and additional programmes such a success in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Although the programmes have been successful, the outstretched arms also call for future funding to assist the completion of the mine action programmes. The frame still has some mines but although there are some still many in the country it represents all the mines that have been cleared and destroyed to make our country safer. The paper that is included in the painting are notes I wrote down while we were on our field trips in mine affected areas.