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:

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.