Horror start, then on to art

21 Aug 2010
by Holly McKay
Progress Leader News

Victoria, Australia

Curator Cathie Stocky and her husband, Julius Stocky, have set up an exhibition featuring paintings from Cambodian orphans, with all money to go back to the orphanage. MARK WILSON N08PP213

A KEW curator has seen a beautiful story born from horror and is revealing it to the public.

Paintings depicting daily life in Cambodia by orphaned children will be on display at Cotham Gallery 101.

While travelling in Cambodia in January, curator Cathie Stocky and her husband, Julius, discovered a young man selling hand-painted postcards by orphans at a temple in Siem Reap.

Cathie Stocky said at the orphanage she met Leng Touch, an orphan who had watched as his father’s throat was slit by soldiers during the Pol Pot regime.

“Leng turned this horrific beginning into a lifetime project of protection and education for orphaned children,” she said.

In 2005 Touch set up The Orphans and Disabled Arts Association (ODA) near Siem Reap. There are presently 22 children at the orphanage where Touch provides food, shelter and education, using his income as an artist.

The children are taught literacy and numeracy in the morning and painting and English in the afternoon. Stocky said she and her husband were so inspired they decided to sponsor an exhibition of the paintings from Touch and the children.

“I want to sell it out and raise awareness for the orphanage,” Stocky said.

She said all proceeds would be given to the ODA and would be used for food and schooling.

More than 300 postcards and more than 100 paintings feature at the exhibition.

The exhibition is at 101 Cotham Rd, Kew, from August 22 until September 5.