Phnom Penh & Arts: Second edition of "Ekarieach" contest

The second edition of the competition, entitled 'Ekarieach', was presented to the press last Friday. It will once again be the result of collaboration between the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, Recréation Cambodia and Lézard Bleu.

The press conference, hosted by Charles-Henri Chevet, Jean Morel and Pierre Rol, was an opportunity to announce the theme of the competition, as well as its terms and conditions and timetable

In contrast to the theme of independence that was adopted for the inaugural 2024 event, this second edition will explore the theme of water, rendered here in the Khmer script as 'teuk'. The jury is seeking submissions that demonstrate originality, risk-taking, and innovation.

Pierre Rol (Lézard Bleu) highlighted that the theme was deliberately open-ended, allowing entrants to interpret the concept of water in any manner they saw fit. This could encompass a range of meanings, from the absence of water to the vast expanse of oceans, seas, and rivers, to the everyday presence of taps, droughts, irrigation, sanitation, and water leakage. Nevertheless, the submitted work must be meaningful.

The jury is comprised of seven members:

- Charles-Henri Chevet, General Manager of Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra

- Jean Morel, from Recreation

- Pierre Rol, consultant at Lézard Bleu

- Casey Barnett, President of CamEd Business School

- Adrienne Ravez, Consultant in digital innovation and communication strategies, Global Innovation & Change (GIC)

- Denis Laurent, Managing Director of Kantha Bopha Hospitals and Artist

- Ms Lysine Khao, Managing Director of LBL International and Artist

From left to right: Pierre Rol, Adrienne Ravez, Charles-Henri Chevet and Jean Morel, in front of the huge work of art by the winner of last year's competition, still on display in the Sofitel

The competition is scheduled to commence on 5 August 2024 and conclude at the end of September. Applications may be submitted via the following digital platform: www.recreation-cambodia.com.

The competition is open to both Cambodian and foreign nationals, provided that they are resident in Cambodia. All applicants are required to hold a valid Cambodian visa. In the previous year's competition, 10% of the entries were from foreign countries, including Switzerland, France, the USA, Vietnam and Singapore.

The deadline for the submission of completed projects in the form of digital photos with dimensions is 9 November 2024, which coincides with Independence Day.

Subsequently, the jury will select approximately fifty works for exhibition at the hotel.

A second deliberation by the jury will take place in December, following which an exhibition will be held at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra Gallery from January to February of the following year. The artwork will be available for purchase at the aforementioned price, as determined by the respective creators.

Subsequent to the conclusion of the exhibition, the members of the jury shall bestow the five prizes for the Ekarieach 2024 competition.

A ceremony to bestow awards upon the five winners will be held at the conclusion of January 2025. The ceremony will be attended by the competition sponsors, representatives of the press, and representatives of the French Ministry of Culture.

The total value of the prizes for this year's competition is $5,000. A sum of $2,000 will be awarded to the overall winner of the competition. The remaining funds are distributed among the four categories of eligible works:

$750 for a sculpture

$750 for a photograph

$750 for a painting/canvas

$750 for a digital work

This distribution is intended to foster diversity and originality in the submitted works of art.The press conference ended with a convivial and tasty lunch at the Sofitel's prestigious Chinese restaurant, Le Fu Lu Zu. On the menu: an assortment of steamed ‘Dim Sum’ filled with prawns, pork, beef and vegetables, as well as soups, Cantonese rice and fried noodles.