In 2008, the Photo Phnom Penh festival was born on the initiative of Alain Arnaudet who was then the director of the French Cultural Center, now the French Institute of Cambodia (IFC). He had already launched a dance festival, a street music festival, and theater activities, when he met two young people who wanted to exhibit their photographs before the creation of the gallery, library and restaurant. Concerned by the issues that were emerging around the image and aware of the fact that there was no structure in the country providing access to or training in photography, he decided to create an annual photography festival.
We very quickly defined the basis: exchanges between Asian cultures and those of the rest of the world, especially Europe, The presentation would not favor any style or school of contemporary photography practices, but would showcase authors and artists of all origins and aesthetics and help in the emergence of contemporary Cambodian photography. The first year, it was difficult to find four Cambodians whose work could be exhibited and the public was, in its vast majority, made up of expatriates. For the tenth edition, we were able to exhibit ten high quality Cambodian photographers on the large wall of the French embassy, we projected twenty-five of them during the opening night, the public was already very largely Cambodian, more than a hundred volunteers allowed the event to run, the small structure of the Studio Image permitted to initiate and train young photographers within the IFC and they naturally found their place in subsequent editions. A successful bet, then. Thanks first of all to all the artists who trusted us and became involved in the project.
For two years, in addition to the usual program, we have added a focus on a “guest country”. After Switzerland and Taiwan, this fifteenth edition will welcome France, which has been a loyal supporter of the event since the beginning thanks to the French Institute, Paris and Phnom Penh. From Christine Spengler exhibited at the Sosoro Museum on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the historical photography she took during the first bombing of Phnom Penh by the Khmer Rouges in 1974 to the research linking photography, science and fiction of Vincent Fournier on the wall of the French embassy, through the proposals with contrasting aesthetics of Jean-François Spricigo and Aglaé Bory in the field of documentary, among others, France is therefore in the spotlight. With new Cambodian authors such as Ly Sovanna at Bophana Center, our partner from the first edition and the Vietnamese artist Chiron Dong, the dialogue is established like every year between the two continents.
As a generous birthday present, a group exhibition brings together in the IFC gallery sixty artists who have already participated in Photo Phnom Penh and who offer us new works, some of which are on video. Diversity here again with signatures from all around the world, radically different stylistic proposals, from documentary to narration, testimony and dream. A survey of what is photography today and the beautiful presence of what can now be considered as a new school of Cambodian photography. A development that has been, since the beginning of the festival, helped and supported by the local delegation of the European Union.
This fifteenth edition coincides with an important event, the opening, finally, of a training and professionalization structure for photography and image. Taking the title of Studio Images, this school is thanks to the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) an independent structure that establishes links with other establishments in the world and among them the École Nationale Supérieure de la Photographie in Arles. Active since September, it benefits from the support of the traditional partners of the festival, the French Institute, the European Union, Cambodia Airports and also Cambodia Living Arts and private partners for its first year of existence. And it must prepare and build its future.
Happy birthday Photo Phnom Penh, have a good festival and let’s look towards tomorrow.
Christian Caujolle
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