Jun 74 min read

Sofitel Phnom Penh & Arts: ‘X’, a unique artistic fusion between Denis Laurent and Robotang

To mark the 60th anniversary of the pioneer of French-style luxury hotels, the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra has been offering visitors unique, original and attractive events from April until July 2024.

The artists in exhibition X: Robotang (left) and Denis Laurent (right)

A diamond jubilee that promotes a fusion of local Khmer culture and French elegance, the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra invited more than a hundred people to its gallery last Wednesday for the ‘X’ exhibition by Denis Laurent and Robotang.

The Sofitel's 26th exhibition, the first four-handed affair

Once again, the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra has proved its commitment to the creation of cultural richness with this beautiful encounter between French quality of life and Khmer culture.

It's an alchemy that can be seen from the Sofitel logo on the occasion of its 26th exhibition, where the two intertwined diamonds illustrate the link between the two cultures.

A precious relationship that also unites the two artists, even if nothing brings them together in terms of their opposing artistic approaches, even after 15 years of working together to ‘design’ hospitals.

Nonetheless, for this project, their complementarity, this crossroads of two opposing worlds where an X emerges, was an obvious choice, a 4-handed exhibition that won the admiration of the public in particular:

‘Denis Laurent and Robotang's exhibition is unique! It's a mix of bright colours and varied shapes, sometimes intermingled with phrases or a few words, a mix of textures and reliefs...’

‘The Cambodian roots can be seen in some of the works, particularly in the representations of the majestic site of Angkor. In short, it's a real living spectacle that leaves no one indifferent,’ says Julia Pasquier-Desvignes, a young Frenchwoman living in Cambodia who was present at the X exhibition.

Why ‘X’?

In his opening speech, Area Genral Manager, Charles-Henri Chevet explained the origin of the exhibition's enigmatic title: X

Charles-Henri Chevet between the two artists

‘EXceptionnaly, I must give you the background to this X exhibition. Our Sofitel brand was born 60 years ago in France, in June 1964, with the opening of the first Sofitel in Strasbourg. Alsace, as we all know, and I would like to welcome our many friends from Alsace this evening'.

‘To celebrate this anniversary or this diamond jubilee, we wanted to work with the hotel teams to present you with an exceptional exhibition that our two talents have entitled 'X’.

‘EXCEPTIONAL because it's the first time we've presented two talents at the same time. I have to confess their first reaXion to my proposal was negative. However, after some discussion, we finally agreed. Denis and Alain both have dual French and Cambodian nationality. In this way, we are embracing one of the pillars of our brand, which is to unite local culture with French culture and elegance’.

Robotang and the contemporary influence of Khmer ancestral heritage

Born in Cambodia, Robotang studied in France and Montreal, finishing top of his class at the École supérieure d'arts et d'Architecture de Paris in 1997.

After working for more than 10 years in France as an art director, he returned to his native country in 2009 on a whim to shoot a photo for one of his friends, Romyda Keth, a leading fashion figure.

Then, working in the fields of design, art and architecture, it was in 2010 that he was recognised under the name Robotang at the Salon des Créateurs, showcasing objects that combine art and design in a very modern approach.

Apart from two works on canvas, he has turned his attention to what he describes as ‘more foreign’ media: velvet and fur. It's a technique similar to Impressionism, but one that requires a fairly precise understanding and know-how.

It's a job that took a lot of time, both in terms of what he wanted to represent, but also in terms of how he approached his work:

‘I had trouble finding a theme, so I stuck to something simple, Cambodia and its heritage. I do a lot of sketches before I start, because of my background as a graphic designer’.

Denis Laurent and his sincere escape to a therapeutic journey in total freedom

Denis Laurent has been living in Cambodia for 30 years and is well known for his unwavering commitment to the Kantha Bopha hospitals.

Although he studied biology, his passion for art has never wavered. A self-taught artist with a remarkable collection of over 1,000 works, his painting has been with him every day for 45 years now, with his first exhibition in Cambodia in 1998.

‘I need painting, it's therapeutic painting, it allows me to create another world,’ says Denis Laurent.

Immersed in his works, it's easy to understand his inspiration drawn from contemporary themes. Using acrylics and wood (salvaged slabs), Denis Laurent shares his emotions, moods and life's highlights.

We're going through a difficult period,’ he says. ’Before, my painting was more abstract, so it was less easy to express something, but now putting words or dates in my work really drives the point home. Words like respect and tolerance are the key to a balanced life,' the artist says.

He adds: ‘I started a long time ago with more monochrome things, and this latest series is much more spontaneous.'

The work has been with him for nine months, and he was able to share some of it with his two grandsons, who were visiting Cambodia last August, and who in fact affixed the phrase ‘LIGHT IS THE SIGN OF LIFE’ to his work ‘Emotions’.

Denis Laurent's art is a sincere escape and a therapeutic journey that also reflects the beauty and reality of his environment.

Robotang and Denis Laurent meet their fans

A new exhibition at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, where the artistic encounter between Denis Laurent and Robotang creates a real universe around a unique, positive and inspiring alchemy.