Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - New exhibition has theme of evolution at its core

New exhibition has theme of evolution at its core

Artist Karen Hartmann, who has been in Cambodia for the last six years and will be exhibiting her work beginning tonight at Chinese House. Photo supplied/Karl Laframboise
Artist Karen Hartmann, who has been in Cambodia for the last six years and will be exhibiting her work beginning tonight at Chinese House. Photo supplied/Karl Laframboise

New exhibition has theme of evolution at its core

Karen Hartmann’s new exhibition, Changing Paradigms, is all about evolution.

“It’s something new, radically new,” says Hartmann, describing her shift from portraiture to abstract paintings. The evolution is both thematic and technical, representing a break from her previous work.

Her path to becoming an artist began in childhood with her father, whose sketches she would observe, and who encouraged her creativity.

“We must have been drawing one day, and he saw something [in us] four of his children,” she says. “And he got us books, and we sat at the kitchen table and sketched little men – stick figures. That’s where it started.”

Although she has spent six years in Cambodia, her relationship with the country goes back more than a decade, when she and her husband started learning Khmer while still in the United States. As Jehovah’s Witnesses, they were hoping to preach and study the Bible with Cambodians, and came to the country to “support the local congregation”. Previously, she was a furniture painter in New York City for eight years.

In Cambodia, she has devoted herself to her painting, and will be exhibiting 42 of her pieces at Chinese House beginning today.

Some of the works are portraits, while others, unusually for her, are abstract. Of particular significance to her are her portraits of Cambodian women, such as Cool Drink and Stung Sanker.

Karen Hartmann’s Cool Drink, part of the Changing Paradigms exhibition. Photo supplied
Karen Hartmann’s Cool Drink, part of the Changing Paradigms exhibition. Photo supplied

“The portraits that I’ve done, I remember the people. I remember the day, what they were doing at the time, the eyes – I’m very focused on getting the feeling that comes out of the eyes,” she says.

In her works, influences from artists across different periods and movements are evident.

She counts John Singer Sargent – a famous American portrait artist from the early 20th century – and Pablo Picasso among her influences. Then there is Cambodia, which is her main source of creative inspiration.

“I just get so much inspiration from being here,” she says. “Colour, the heat – and the people.”

While she doesn’t see her work as being “so deeply philosophical”, Hartmann still hopes that her work resonates.

“I enjoy watching people when they look at my work and hear their comments,” she says.

“I never tell people what to see, what to do. It either evokes something – it opens a window, opens a door for them – that’s what I want to do, just be somebody who opens up a new thought for people.”

Changing Paradigms opens tonight at 6pm at Chinese House and will be on display until February 14. There will complementary beer, wine and canapés early in the night, and a dinner upstairs for $28, with reservations recommended.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • After three deferrals, Capital Gains Tax to take effect Jan 1, 2024

    The General Department of Taxation (GDT) will implement the Capital Gains Tax starting January 1, 2024 to after being deferred three times as industrial players warn that the implementation might have some negative impact on the property market growth, which is down due to the economic downturn.