Kak Sokphirom presents his portfolio to Osman Khawaja, executive director of Phare Ponleu Selpak. SUPPLIED
Phare Ponleu Selpak, in collaboration with Pi-Pet-Pi Gallery 282, is hosting “Reflections: Circus as an Art Form”, a new photo exhibition by Kak Sokphirom in Phnom Penh. The 33 photos on exhibit concentrate on monochrome photos of artists and shows taken during the recent Tini Tinou International Circus festival – sponsored by Total Energies Cambodia – held in Battambang last June. The images will be on display at Pi-Pet-Pi until September 21.
Sokphirom’s interest in photography began in 2014 when he touched a camera for the first time. He said when he looked through the lens, he realised that his surroundings were beautiful and he wanted to capture them and show the world.
“Every photograph I’ve taken shows my experiences and emotions at key moments of my life. Life has a momentum that time doesn’t stop. What I do is show a point in time and hope I can give it meaning. My photographs reflect a local perspective - I call it capturing Cambodia through local (my) eyes,” he said.
An artist emerges
He started as a commercial photographer and transitioned to art photography in the last three or four years. He believes all of his work represents art. Weddings, engagements, family gatherings and public performances may be daily occurrences in society – but to be able to let people relive those moments on a piece of paper (or a digital screen) is an art in itself, he says.
Nowadays, when he is not compiling and organising his own work, he organises unique immersive Cambodian immersive photography tours.
Osman Khawaja, executive director of Phare Ponleu Selpak said Sokphirom has participated in past art festivals organised by Phare and loves circus as an art form.
“When the Tini Tinou International Circus festival was launched, he was keen to join. He has travelled through Battambang many times, both leading photography tours for visitors and for his own documentation projects,” Khawaja told The Post.
The exhibition’s purpose is to present the circus beyond its mere entertainment value, allowing the artists to showcase their deeper emotions and the profound meaning of their art through the lens of talented photographer Sokphirom.
He explained that the exhibition is interactive and invites visitors to narrate their feelings and stories through the photographs, allowing them to reflect upon their own emotions through the powerful images.
“There are five groups of photographs, accompanied by short poetic introductions. Each group shares a different story about life,” he said.
“People may misinterpret the exhibition’s theme and conclude that life is depressing. Instead, I found beauty in the performances. Depression doesn’t have to be dark and hidden; it can be beautiful. That’s what I’ve tried to capture,” the self-taught Sokphirom told The Post.
“For example, in the group ‘What do you carry?’ the rings are the burdens a person carries. Sometimes they can become too much and a person falls down. But you have to find a way to pull yourself out of it; either you drop some burdens or you think positively and convince yourself that it’ll get better in the future. When there is darkness, you have to find light for yourself,” he added.
The central concept of the exhibition is to capture the circus as an art form, reflect on the culture, and lead the public to thoughtful conversations that help heal and build better communities, he said.
A circus connection
In this framework Phare Ponleu Selpak is actively working to raise awareness in Cambodia and worldwide about how powerful the circus arts are as an instrument to uplift the social conditions of an entire community.
“Sokphirom has a unique way of connecting with and capturing his subject matter. Looking at his photos from the recent circus festival, it became evident that he transcended the entertaining factor of circus.
“His photos present circus as a truly unique art form – inviting us to reflect and find our own meaning, make our own connections and tell our own stories. What I love is that he came as a spectator, as usual with his camera around his neck, with no intention of telling a story or exhibiting. Only after he showed me his photos and shared how they made him feel it became evident that there was a story to tell....and in the process elevate circus as the art form which it should be recognised as,” Khawaja said.
The exhibition also aims to highlight the need for the corporate sector to support the arts and art festivals.
Khawaja added that he appreciated the sponsorship Total Energies provided to the Tini Tinou International Circus Festival. Organising such city-wide festivals which engage with Cambodian and international artists and put the town of Battambang on the arts map is only possible with support from the corporate sector. He hoped more corporations would appreciate the circus for the powerful art form that it is and step forward to support future festivals.
As the leading actor of the exhibition, Sokphirom said when he witnesses a circus show, he never feels alone. The circus offers emotion, history, anticipation, and awe. Their scripts speak to him. He is inspired by the colors, costumes, movement, music, and physical human capabilities.
Dinah Kumar, managing director of Total Energies Cambodia, made the opening remarks for the exhibition.
“We are glad to be here today because we are committed to promoting heritage and arts. The corporate world can play a crucial role in boosting the next golden age for art, and Total Energies will always be there to support arts culture, especially if it is linked to heritage.
“When I saw the Tini Tinou Festival I did not know what to expect, but I was highly impressed. I believe that arts are not for a specific group, they are for everybody across society; I hope that with this contribution, we will be able to see how we can continue to promote arts in the future,” she said.
Khawaja added that photographs help people to revisit experiences and see things which they may have missed the first time. They help people pause and reflect and connect in deeper ways. This is what differentiates Sokphirom’s photographs.
Circus is a powerful art form, which needs to be recognised more for its creativity, power of storytelling and highly demanding physical athleticism, he said.
“When viewing this art, I hope that you’ll be able to find the support you need when you’re in a dark, sad, or depressive place of mind. Its part of life, but it won’t always be like that for you. Stop by Pi-Pet-Pi Gallery 282 to learn more about my personal life journey and reflect on yours and others’ journeys,” Sokphirom said.
