Tor Vutha, Artist

As a child growing up in the refugee camps on the Thai border in the 1980s, Tor Vutha, 34, fought boredom by learning to paint. From there, he became involved in artistic productions and has decorated circus shows in France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Algeria, and Reunion Island, and has painted churches and pagodas in Thailand. Tor Vutha is now an art teacher at the Phare Ponleu Selpak art school in Battambang.

Suos Sodavy, Artist

Suos Sodavy, 53, is originally from Phnom Penh but lived in Budapest, Hungary, for 10 years, where he earned degrees from the Ecole Normale Superieure de l’Education and the Academy of Fine Arts. He mostly paints with oils, and has exhibited extensively in Southeast Asia as well as in Hungary. Suos Sodavy currently works at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in Phnom Penh.

Chhim Sothy, Artist

Chhim Sothy, 40, is an internationally-renowned artist who has exhibited throughout Southeast Asia and Europe. In 2000, he was chosen by ASEAN to represent Cambodia. Chhim Sothy is primarily a painter but also has extensive experience with furniture design and landscaping. His style combines traditional and contemporary elements. He is from Phnom Penh and works at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.

Srey Bandol, Artist

Srey Bandol, 36, learned to paint while growing up in the refugee camps on the border with Thailand. He vividly remembers carrying landmines and keeping them in his house as a child. He later worked as a military nurse along the Thai-Cambodian border, caring for victim of landmines and ERW. Today, he lives in Battambang province and teaches art at Phare Art School. He is an incredible drawer.

Ben Thynal, Artist

Ben Thynal, the youngest in the group, is a 23-year-old artist from Battambang’s Rottanak Mondol district, which has the highest landmine/ERW casualty rate in Cambodia. After studying drawing and painting at the Phare Ponleu Selapak Art School in Battambang, he studied at Build Bright University in Phnom Penh. He mostly paints but also has experience with shadow puppets and sculpture. He now lives and works as an artist in Siem Reap.