The ‘Looking Forward’ series, which will be on show at The Gallerist from next Wednesday, follows on from one of his first projects, ‘Surviving - The Rise’, which he began in 2012 and presented at the same gallery in October 2023.
Both series focused on the Cambodian people he met on the streets and in the villages, individuals who have lived through and survived various challenges in their lives. As he continued to visit their villages and got to know some of them more personally, he gained a deeper understanding of their thoughts and life journeys.
“Looking Forward” explores the power of dreams — how having our own dreams gives us the strength to move forward in life. Chov Theanly is deeply motivated by people who, despite facing obstacles like war and economic hardship, remain determined to pursue and realize their dreams.
He was drawn to Realism and Minimalism because these styles vividly capture stories and emotions without unnecessary distractions. For this series, he uses colorful, simplified landscapes that reflect everyday life, by selecting colors such as yellow, green, and pink to reflect the mood of each story..
For the depiction of people, Theanly uses traditional Cambodian oil painting techniques, which he learned from Cambodian masters, while also incorporating contemporary colors inspired by foreign artists. Beyond their apparent simplicity, his paintings reveal a thought-provoking depth which, we believe, is one of the secrets behind the appeal of his work. He draws on personal stories to tell of a changing country. He manages to communicate a deeply pictorial vision - sensitive and palpable - of the theme of individual fulfillment. His talent, accessible to viewers from different backgrounds, allows everyone to recognise their own failures and successes.
Chov Theanly's paintings are characterized by their meticulous attention to detail, use of vivid colors and composition which create a visually stunning experience.
Theanly says:
“I painted from photos I took of villagers, then while painting I adjust light, shadow and add the color based on the story I want to tell. I paint figures in various gestures, such as walking through a flood or a man holding a fishing net, based on elements of their personal stories.”
The technique of Chov reminds us of the hand-painted advertisements, a tradition well established in the region, which have indeed inspired many contemporary artists. These works, often colorful and expressive, reflect a unique aesthetic and an artisanal approach that contrasts with modern production methods.
These painted billboard advertisements also capture the collective imagination and evoke emotions in the viewer, which makes them particularly relevant in the context of contemporary art.
Indeed, Chov Theanly’s pictorial style strongly evokes hand painted shop signs of yesteryear, commonly used in Cambodia. His artworks are characterized by bright colors, dynamic compositions, and a sense of detail that recall the artisanal aesthetic of these advertisements.
Chov Theanly often integrates elements of popular culture, traditional motifs, and social references into his work, creating a dialogue between the past and the present. This approach allows him to celebrate the visual heritage of painted advertisements while addressing contemporary themes. His art thus becomes a means of exploring collective memory and challenging the standards of modernity.
One important element in this series is the symbolism within the paintings. Chov has included various objects like spirit houses, footprints, paper planes, paper boats, or candles. “They are my interpretation of hope within each story”.
These simple items carry messages of hope, representing the potential for change. Behind an apparent simplicity lies a complex reflection on the tug-of-war between the human condition and the aspiration to rise, a struggle to survive and surpass oneself.
Biography
Chov Theanly is a Cambodian painter born in 1985 in Battambang province whose work is characterized by realistic and minimalist yet expressionist styles. He often explores themes related to memory and identity. He has been drawn to traditional painting at a young age, through his uncle, a sign painter. Chov Theanly’s artworks are characterized by bright colors, dynamic compositions, and a sense of detail that recall the artisanal aesthetic of hand painting advertisement.
Chov Theanly studied Graphic Design at the Vocational Training Center of Battambang from 2004 to 2007. In 2011, he completed a law degree in Phnom Penh. His works focus on many things close to his life and are drawn from his own experience as an artist, through a simple gesture to tell the story of everyday life and personal aspirations.
His first solo show at Java Cafe in 2013 is a huge success and opened the doors to international exhibitions, as a leading artist at “Phnom-Penh at the Musée de l’Hospice-Comtesse” in Lille, France, and at “Cambodia: Looking back at the Future” at the Flinn Gallery in Greenwich, CT, USA. In 2017, Galerie Lee in Paris, organized Theanly first solo show in France. In 2019, he was part of a group exhibition at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre.
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