Cambodian Masters, Stories Told...

See the multimedia introduction piece of this project at this link.

This project features 7 Cambodian masters in their specific art.
Meet each of them through a multimedia portrait (photos + interview) at the following links:

Socheatah Ung

Ny Jewell

Masady Mani

Viphas Eng

Phutyrith Sek

Chum Ngek

Kantya Nou

Archival pictures in this stories are from photographers Dominique de Rivaz, Jean-Jacques Kurz and Robert Trippett whose contribution to this project and multimedia pieces are greatly appreciated, thanks a lot!


From the Cambodian refugee camps of the Thai border in 1979 to America today, there’s still thousands of stories that must be told.
All the confirmed artists that I have met at the Cambodian temple of Silver Spring, Maryland these last two years have compelling stories… Most of them have fled Cambodia while the Vietnamese took over the country and the Khmer Rouge loosing it. Several ended up meeting together in Kao-I-Dang refugee camp where they were eager to bring back the Cambodian living arts alive. After a few months, a group of 30 families of artists was admitted in the United States, among the first Cambodian refugees accepted in the US. They settled in Maryland and started a new life in the early 80s. For the last 30 years now they have challenged the odds, going back to school, looking for jobs to support their family and raising their children. Still they continued practicing their art, sharing the tradition to a younger generation of Cambodian Americans.

New Year at Willow Temple, Long Beach, California

Wat Khemara Buddhikaram in Long Beach is commonly called ‘Wat Willow” as it is located on 2100 West Willow Street. Even though it is not in the Cambodian “business neighborhood” along Anaheim Street, it remains one important Buddhist temple for the Cambodian community.

During the week of April 14, thousands of people come and gather at the temple, to honor Lord Buddha, give respect to the monks, pray and share food.

The artists of the Cambodian Culture and Arts Association will perform folkloric dances that are still very familiar to those who were born in Cambodia and had to flee or leave the country sometime in their life…

Cambodian elders are happy to contribute financially during a performance of “Chayam” folkloric dance.

Srey Met (pictured above), 61, playing “Chapey dong veng”, a popular Cambodian two-stringed, long-necked guitar.

Before a performance, Nhoeun Gnim, 58, is burning incense in honor of the spirit of the music and instruments.

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See more stories about the Cambodian Americans in the archives of this blog! ..

April 17, Memorial day, Long Beach, California

Every year, in the same week that they celebrate their New Year, some Cambodian people in the world will also mourn and remember the day that the Khmer Rouge guerilla took over Phnom Penh in April 17, 1975. Actually, the Khmer Rouge guerilla had taken over many other cities and provinces in Cambodia before April 75. Some parts of the country had even been under KR control for quite a while. Still April 17 in 1975 marked the start of a three years, eight months and twenty days regime of terror, killings and sufferings.
At the very time where some last still alive former Khmer Rouge responsibles are judged in Phnom Penh, Cambodian people from Long Beach gathered at Wat Vipassanaram for a memorial day of prayers, testimonies, healing poetry and candle light vigil, organized by “Killing Fields Memorial Center” (http://kfmemorial.org/home/)
In the picture below Cambodian native Vat Rattana, 70, explains the spiritual meaning of burning incense to young American from Cambodian descent Kai Lee, 8.

Pictured above and below: some former Lon Nol governmental army soldiers (“veterans”) who could escape Cambodia before the Khmer Rouge took over Phnom Penh and therefore have not lived under the regime.

Unlike some of his veteran friends, Cambodian poet Chandara Nop (pictured above left) has not escaped the Cambodian turmoil and was trapped like many others into the Khmer Rouge regime.

Bryant Sokphanarith Ben (left), a Long Beach community activist, secretary of the “Killing Fields Memorial Center” shares the loss of one of his brother who died under the Khmer Rouge regime.

Caleb Lee, 6, from Cambodian descent, came with his family and brought his candle to honor the souls and spirits of those who died under the KR regime.

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See more stories about the Cambodian Americans in the archives of this blog! ..