Excellent new Asia site "through Asian Eyes"

Anyone interested in arts, culture, and life in Asia should check out the new site asia! through Asian Eyes. I'm not just saying that because they've featured a slideshow of IMPACT artwork -- the site is really good and has all kinds of information about the latest in Asian art, culture, and current events.

From the site:

asia! is an online and mobile platform for Asian bloggers and other writers. For readers, asia! is a place to get a feel for what ordinary Asians are thinking and saying and doing, a glimpse of the Asia that lies beyond the news headlines.

Our editors scour the web for fresh thinking and good writing about what’s going on in Asia. We look for interesting or entertaining perspectives on issues both big and small, and we ask these bloggers and writers to contribute their posts or to collaborate with us in one or another way.

We keep an eye out for interesting people in Asia and we talk to them. Some may be famous, some deserve to be famous; most are just ordinary people going about their lives in the world’s largest, most populous and most diverse continent.

We also watch out for trends that are taking shape, the changing patterns of life – whether personal or professional, social or economic - as Asian countries develop.

And we look for pictures or photo essays that capture all these aspects of Asia.

IMPACT New York opening a success

Thousands of people from around the world have learned about the situation of landmines in Cambodia through seeing the artwork from IMPACT: an art exhibit about landmines in Cambodia.

The most recent opportunity was at the UN Headquarters in New York. Hundreds of people attended the opening on 5 April, and countless more have seen the exhibit thanks to its prominent position at the opening of the UN visitors center.

On the evening of 5 April, Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Mr. Alain Le Roy presided over the commemoration ceremony, which featured the Cambodian artwork as well as photos by renowned photographers Kike Arnal from Venezuela and Arne Hodalic from Slovenia. Acclaimed Verve recording artist Lucy Woodward and her band performed live music.

Below are some photos of the installation.

Here's the entry to the exhibit, just left of the doors leading into the visitor center.

To the left is the Cambodian artwork, and to the right are the photographs.

You can see both "halls" of the exhibition from this shot. On the front panels of the Cambodian side are the paintings by Bandol, Vichet, and Vutha.

Now we're going clockwise, starting with Dina and Bunna's sculptures.

Next comes Sothy's painting.

Facing Sothy's painting are Riem's painting, Sodavy's collage, and Vanndy's sculpture.

The four young survivors' pieces follow.

Here's a shot of the exhibit from back to front.

Cambodian handicrafts made by landmine survivors were also on display.

In the other "hall" were the photographs by Kike Arnal and Arne Hodalic.

In the center are some Free From Explosive Unexploded Ordnance (FFE UXO).

I visited the day after the opening to take photos, and lost count of the number of people who came through to check out the exhibit during their tour of the UN Headquarters.

Who knew this building could hold such lovely art?

Definitely needed this banner on 1st Ave:

IMPACT at the UN HQ in NYC on 5 April

It's official: IMPACT will open at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 5 April at 6 pm -- and everyone's invited. Here's the flyer:

The exhibition is part of the United Nation Mine Action Team's celebration of International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. You read more here.

Hope to see you there.

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: