From February 20 to March 2, 2025, Open Studio hosts an exhibition by artist Kong Siden. Entitled Sands Below, the artist's work calls for a greater awareness of the importance of sand in the Kingdom.
Exhibition period: Feb 20th- March 02nd, 2025 (by appointment only)
Information:tisamjort@gmail.com, +855 77 55 85 45/ 097 892 32 90
About Sands Below
Concept
This project will delve into the often-overlooked role of sand in Cambodia, examining its presence beneath the surface and its profound implications for the country’s socioeconomic environment.
The research-based practices and conceptual outlook that will enable the further conceptualizations and development of the methodology, and help to develop purposeful, critical and aesthetic models for comparative study of these cities.
Working on the narrow scope on the complex rapid development in Cambodia within the short and long term of benefit and effect on environs, human, and non human.
Begin with a natural lake area where it soon becomes a new well development land in the northwestern part of Phnom Penh city, Boeung Tamok or Boeung Kobsrov.
This lake is the largest natural lake in Phnom Penh. Around the lake, there are about 300 families and 1,000 people, most of whom work in the fields or on the lake, engaging in fishing, farming, or running home-based businesses. In addition to benefiting humans, Boeung Tamok is also home to many species of birds and fish. Through the exploration of the sand story
In 1980, Boeung Tamok was a lowland area where people could farm seasonally. After the construction of the Tom Nob Kobsrov Dam Road, a drainage system from Phnom Penh, and the excavation of soil, the lake became deeper. Although the lake was identifiable by sight, there was no official boundary until 2016 when the Royal Government issued a sub-decree defining Boeung Tamok Lake with 61 points and a total area of 3,239.7 hectares, declaring it state public property. As of August 2023, the lake’s surface area has been revised at least 70 times.
This open studio presents the initial artistic outcomes of the project. Using data-driven and on-site research, along with photographs and found footage creates a light-infused atmosphere through video projections, and lightboxes. The works blur the line between illusion and reality, exploring the transformation of the landscape while prompting reflection on the impact of development on the lake.
About the Artist
Kong Siden (b. 1997, Phnom Penh, Cambodia) is a contemporary artist whose practice spans photography, video installation, and immersive experiences. Previously a communication and publishing coordinator at Sa Sa Art Projects, Siden’s artistic journey is rooted in a profound curiosity about the intersection of humanity and space.
Siden’s work invites viewers into environments that blur the lines between the familiar and the surreal. Through a meticulous blend of observation, interaction, and contemplation, he creates immersive experiences that evoke profound physical and emotional responses. His art is a testament to his relentless pursuit of understanding the complexities of human existence within our shared world.
With a focus on photographs, light, moving images, sound, and space, Siden constructs works that challenge perceptions and awaken new layers of consciousness. He meticulously crafts environments where light and shadow dance across surfaces, creating a sense of mystery and intrigue.
Sound becomes an integral element, weaving through the space and manipulating viewers' emotional responses. Siden's use of space is deliberate, often creating installations that invite viewers to participate and become part of the artwork itself. Through these multifaceted experiences, Siden encourages viewers to question their assumptions about the world around them and explore the depths of human perception. His practice is continually evolving, offering audiences a dynamic and thought-provoking exploration of the human experience.
Siden's first solo show, Moments in Light, took place at Sa Sa Art Projects in 2023. He is a recipient of the Dogma Prize (Ho Chi Minh City, 2023), the Treeline Grant (Siem Reap, 2020), and the Java Creative Generation 3 Award (Phnom Penh, 2020). His selected group exhibitions include Creative Generation: Worlds Unknown Art Festival at Friends Futures Factory (2022), Invisible Voices: Treeline Artist Grants at Treeline (2020), Possibility, Transferring, Passing at Sa Sa Art Projects (2019), Immerse at Sa Sa Art Projects (2018), and the Photo Phnom Penh Festival (2018). He participated in the Saitama Artist-In-Residence Program during the Saitama Triennale 2023 in Saitama, Japan. In 2024, he will be in residence in Khon Kaen, Thailand, as part of Muang-Kong-Koi-Jaroen-Raww (My Country Civilization) by Kultx Collaboration Space.
This art project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 863944 THINK DEEP).
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