IMPACT film this Friday 5 February at Meta House in Phnom Penh

Please join us at Meta House this Friday for a screening of Clearing for Results, the 15-minute film about IMPACT: an art exhibit about landmines in Cambodia. The film follows Cambodian artists as they visit mine-affected communities to learn more about the issue in Cambodia, and then create artwork representing what they’ve seen. Several artists will be at the event to talk about their experiences and answer questions.

The screening is part of an evening featuring international and Cambodian artists who have created artwork representing these issues. Renowned sculptor Blake Ward will also unveil his new video installation Burning Buddha and give a talk on human rights and human rights abuses.

The fun begins at 7 pm, so get there early to save a seat. Meta House has a limited food menu and a more extensive drink menu.

What: Film screening and artist talk about landmines
When: Friday 5 February, 7:00 pm
Where: Meta House, #6 Street 264, Opposite Wat Botum (next to Cambodia/Vietnam Friendship Memorial Park)

Siem Reap opening: Srey Bandol on 8 February at Hotel de la Paix

And for those of you in Siem Reap on 8 February, stop by Hotel de la Paix for les nuages (the clouds), a solo exhibit by Srey Bandol. Drinks start flowing at 6:30 pm.

Phnom Penh opening: Em Riem on 4 February

For those of you in Phnom Penh on 4 February, stop by the grand opening of le salon des createurs at No Problem Park House at 55 Street 178. The fun starts at 6 pm.

This is one of Em Riem's projects.

Here's the flyer:

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.