Mech Sereyrath – When the sun reaches the river
To produce more, to consume more, we always need more energy. This has long been one of the problems that has slowed down Cambodia’s economic development and this is why the decision was taken to build the large Lower Se San II dam in Stung Treng province on the river that is an important tributary of the Tonle Sap, and therefore of the Mekong. Inaugurated in 2018, it is the most powerful dam in the country, the one that produces the most electricity. But, as this already happened in other countries, the creation of these gigantic facilities has consequences, both on nature, biodiversity, and on populations. This is how the villages of Kbal Romeas and Sre Pok, mainly peopled by indigenous minority groups, disappeared under water, partially or entirely. Some inhabitants agreed to leave, others refused and live in the forest and boycott the electricity produced by the dam.
The young artist, who also works in video and cinema, has always been interested in environmental issues and new discoveries. Among other things, she has documented air pollution in Phnom Penh, the Wat Bo Primary School a role model school in Siem Reap and the relationship between the Mekong and the forest for example. Sereyrath has been pursuing filmmaking, particularly documentary films since her undergraduate studies and has participated in numerous films including The expired, which was selected for the Busan Film Festival in 2023.
To address the consequences of the construction of the large dam, Mech Sereyrath chose, in a photo and video installation, to use infrared film which gives an unreal aspect to everythings, which transforms green into red, which evokes a form of violence and makes everything ghostly.
L’installation des photographies et des vidéos de Mech Sereyrath est présentée à F3 ( Friends Future Factory).
Christian Caujolle
