By Dan Riegler
Friday, 18 May 2012
Phnom Penh Post
What
happens when a group of 40 prominent and up-and-coming artists are
given an identical mask on which to express their deepest creative
desires? On May 24 Phnom Penh will find out as they gather at the
Plantation Hotel for the Cambodia Mask Project.
The artists, 27
Cambodian and 13 foreigners with deep ties to Cambodia, have each been
given an about 60cm by 60cm papier-mâché mask to paint or adorn any way
they want. All 40 masks will be available for purchase via a silent
auction for the 10 days following the opening, with cash raised
channeled into a fund to promote contemporary art here.
The
project is the brainchild of Josh Weil, his wife Anya and brother Seth,
directors of Empty Space Productions, but Reykjavik native Steinunn
Jakobsdottir is managing the event with a small team of dedicated
helpers.
“It’s a really exciting project, it’s great to see
these artists from all over the country come together, which might never
happen otherwise,” the bubbly native of Iceland said.
The
artists are an eclectic bunch – painters, photographers, graffiti
artists, designers and sculptors – with some already well known
internationally. Em Riem, for example, has had an exhibit at the UN
headquarters and has shown his work in London, Paris and Hong Kong,
among other cities.
Participants Khchao Touch and Peap Tarr have
also showcased their work abroad extensively. The goals, organisers say,
are twofold: to ensure that younger and emerging Cambodian artists have
access to similar opportunities and to raise the profile of Cambodian
art in the region.
The masks were designed by local mask maker
En Sokha, based on three of the faces at Bayon Temple, though it took
three prototypes before he got the perfect version. “It was important to
make sure there was no religious connection, we didn’t want any of the
artists to feel constrained or uncomfortable working with the masks,”
explained Jakobsdottir. “All artists were told about the nature of the
project and to look at the mask as a blank canvas [and] that they had
100 per cent creative freedom.”
Most of the masks have been
delivered, turning Jakobsdottir’s apartment into a staging ground for
the gallery opening. Themes addressed are Cambodia-centric, ranging from
corruption to love, environmental concerns to family ties. Some artists
have embraced the blank-canvas idea, but many have chosen to work
within the confines of the facial features. “They have managed to apply
their own unique styles, you can recognise many of the artists just by
their masks,” Jakobsdottir said.
Curating a project of this size
from scratch was not easy. “Funding is always difficult, but it is
especially hard for new arts projects,” Jakobsdottir said. “Even getting
the artists to give up their time was tough at first, but once we got
about 10 on board it was a sort of snowball effect.” Eventually they had
to cap the number at 40 due to logistics, but they hope to expand in
coming years.
“We definitely don’t want this to be a one-off,
what we do next year will depend a lot on the final outcome and the
artists’ feedback, but we want this to be a strong annual event that
draws awareness to contemporary art in Cambodia and provides an outlet
for up-and-coming local artists.”
The team expects a modest
beginning for the Cambodian arts fund (already set up in the United
States), but are optimistic that in a few years it will be a key tool
for promoting and supporting of projects nationwide.
Jakbosdottir
said the public’s reaction to the masks will be key. “Of course, it
depends how much people bid, but they are all amazing artists and it’s a
chance to own a really unique Cambodian piece!”
The Cambodia Mask Project opens on Thursday May 24 at 6pm at the
Plantation Hotel (28 Street 184, between Norodom Blvd and Street 19). A
silent auction runs through June 3 and the masks can be viewed at http://www.cambodiamaskproject.org/
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