An open call has been made for artists to apply to have their works exhibited at the Penh Art Fair.

The new generation of artists who have their works selected will be exhibited along with the internationally renowned and most well-known artists in Cambodia during the Penh Art Fair in March.

Miguel Jeronimo, a Phnom Penh-based photographer and one of the organisers, says: “It’s an art fair with the aim to highlight the best work being done in the country in terms of contemporary art and artworks from different mediums that address current topics with fresh ideas.”

The organisers are a group of artists and art enthusiasts working to create a non-profit organisation that promotes contemporary artwork from emerging Cambodian artists.

Jeronimo says the organisers are more interested in the conceptual side of art and not just presentation of beautiful paintings.

“We are joining together some of the most well-known Cambodian artists with emergent artists that are applying through our open call,” he says.

Open calls are an audition process that allows submissions from any artists who wish to apply to be exhibited at the fair.

Jeronimo says new artists “also have their artworks shown to private collectors and increase the chances of sales, and be part of a long-term project with the intent of strengthening the Cambodian art scene”.

Interested artists can go to their website penhartfair.com to fill out the application form. They should act quickly, however, as the deadline for submissions is the end of this month.

“It’s an opportunity to collaborate and grow together as a joined Cambodian art scene, while networking with different artists to exchange ideas and contacting potential art collectors and the public in general,” Jeronimo says.

He says the goal of the Penh Art Fair is to increase the visibility of artists in Cambodia and to raise Cambodia’s profile in the regional art scene.

“Our aim is to organise a Penh Art fair every year. This first edition will be smaller and local in scale but we’d like it to grow to include regional artists and for this event to become part of the Southeast Asia art map,” he says.

The event will see the established and emergent contemporary artists expressing their original ideas through mediums such as installations; video; photography; digital art; contemporary painting and performance art.

The organisers said in a press release: “We focus on innovation and creativity, quality and professionalism of the artists with an expectation for high quality.

“The criteria also focuses on concept and ability to defend the work and the feasibility of the work in that the format or conception of the work must be achievable in the exhibition space with the available resources.

“An artist can create a new work or submit a previous project that has not been exhibited.”

The selected artists including the site-specific installations from the open call will be shown in the Air Gallery at The Factory Phnom Penh’s art space.

Jeronimo tells The Post: “Anyone can apply to our open call and we will have a jury panel composed of Sopheap Pich, Vuth Lyno, Chhim Sothy, Eric Gonzalez and Meta Moeng to evaluate the submissions and select the artists who will exhibit at the festival.

“We will get in touch with the selected artists at the end of February to arrange for the exhibitions to begin in March.”

It is an art fair rather than a competition but there will still be awards for the best artwork and best emergent artist.

The art fair will be carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the National Museum of Cambodia.

Both The Factory and the National Museum will open their doors in March for related events which will draw the attention of both the general public and media, according to the organisers.

“Opening ceremonies will be held at the National Museum with guests from the government and the local creative industry.

“These occasions will also include tours with the artists, networking events and school field trip visits and workshops.

“A closing party with an award ceremony will also be an opportunity for high visibility for partner brands and organisations,” stated the press release.

There is no specific theme imposed by the organisers of this first edition.

Performances from contemporary dancers such as The New Cambodian Artists will be scheduled as well.

For more information, visit Penh Art’s Facebook page: @PenhArtFair or contact them via email: [email protected].