2EYUM !RTS #ENTER 0HNOM 0ENH #AMBODIA
0ICASSO IN 0HNOM 0ENH
#AN 7ESTERN !RTS (ELP
(EAL A .ATION
$AN ,UDEVIG $EDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF )NGRID -UAN WHOSE STRENGTH AND CHARACTER INVALUABLY
INmUENCED AND AFFECTED MY EXPERIENCE IN #AMBODIA
"ROWN &EET
"
0ART )
"ROWN FEET AND TOES HANDS AND lNGERS ARMS AND LEGS HAIRY AND
SMOOTH STRETCHING OUT FOLDED IN 4HEY TWITCH AND JERK SUPPORT
AND TRIP TENSE AND RELAX 0ATCHES OF DARKER GRAY AND SMUDGES OF
LIGHTER BLACK COAT THE SOLES AND TIPS OF THE TOES AND lNGERS AS THEY
MOLD ONTO THE HARD COFFEECOLORED TILE mOOR BENEATH THEM 3OME
FEET REST mAT ON THE GROUND WHILE OTHERS ARCH IN A SEMICIRCLE STILL
OTHERS PRESS UP AGAINST THEIR NEIGHBORS OR CURL UP INTO THEMSELVES
,ONG SLENDER lNGERS AND SHORT FAT ONES HOLD PENCILS AND
CRAYONS AND GLITTER MOVING ALONG STARCHWHITE PAPER AS THEY
DEPICT IMAGES FROM THEIR MINDS 6OICES COO AND SQUEAL SOME
LAUGH WHILE OTHERS REMAIN SILENT BUT THE MOVEMENT OF lNGERS
AND HANDS TOES AND FEET SEEMS INDEPENDENT OF THE BODIES THAT
OWN THEM 3OME REST IN CONTEMPLATION OTHERS ARE ACTIVE SO AS
NOT TO FORGET THEIR TASK 3OME MOVE LAZILY GRAZING THE PAPER IN
STRIDES AND SPRINTS /THERS MOVE INTRICATELY WITH PRECISION AND
METICULOUS CARE %VERYONE THINKS THE SAME THOUGHTS GROSA GROSA
GROSAˆFAMILY FAMILY FAMILY
!S THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY RISE IN COMPETITION WITH ONE
ANOTHER SMALL BROWN FEET AND HANDS APPRECIATE THE COOL
SENSATION OF THE TILES COVERING THE mOOR OF THEIR SCHOOL 4HE
OTHERWISE DIRTSTAINED WALLS ARE HUNG WITH DRAWINGS AND
PAINTINGS GLISTENING WITH MOISTURE DEPICTING SUCH IMAGES
AS THE COUNTRYSIDEˆTHE RICE lELDS THE SPARSE PALM TREES THE
FEEBLE HUTSˆ+HMER TRADITIONAL DANCERS THE 2OYAL 0ALACE AND
PORTRAITS OF MOTHERS FATHERS AND RELATIVES 4HE AM AIR
BECOMES SATURATED WITH VAPOR AND ENERGY FROM THE RISING SUN
4HE CHURNING OF STREETSIDE RITUALS LONG AGO SET IN MOTION ECHO
THROUGH THE SMALL STREET AND TIGHT ALLEYWAY THAT SEPARATE THE
SCHOOL FROM THE MAIN ROAD
4HROUGH THE STEEL BARS OF THREE GLASSLESS WINDOWS FRESH LIGHT
PENETRATES THE CROOKED ARTWORK 4HE PIECES CAST A GLOW IN THE
SUNLIGHT THAT REmECTS UPON THE WORN AND PEELING COLORS OF THE
4HE !RT OF #OEXISTENCE%THICS AND #OEXISTENCE 3TUDENT &ELLOWS
HIGH CEILINGS THE TATTERED AND OVERUSED WOODEN TABLES AND THE
BEAMING BLUES AND REDS OF THE SHINY PLASTIC STOOLS
3ITTING WITH MY BACK AGAINST A WALL UNDER ONE OF THE LARGE
WINDOWS ) HEAR THE INNOCENT SOUNDS OF THE YOUNGER GROUPS FUN
AND GAMES IN THE COURTYARD 4HEIR LAUGHTER AND SCREAMS SPIRAL
UPWARDS INTO THE WINDOWS OF THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS WHICH
SURROUND THE 2EYUM !RT 3CHOOL ,OOKING AT THE ARTWORK AROUND
ME AND THE OR SO STUDENTS ON THE mOOR EXECUTING THE TASK
WHICH ) ASSIGNEDˆPAINTING WHAT FAMILY MEANS TO THEMˆ) AM
REMINDED OF A CONVERSATION ) HAD HAD A FEW DAYS PRIOR WITH 2ITH
THE YOUNGEST OF THE FOUR TEACHERS HERE /N THE PORCH OF HIS SMALL
SECOND STORY APARTMENT IN ONE OF THE POOREST AREAS OF 0HNOM
0ENH #AMBODIA HE SHOWED ME SOME OF HIS PREVIOUS PAINTINGS
AND IN DESCRIBING THEM STATED h7ATERCOLORS ARE FOR MAKING MONEY
TO FEED THE FAMILY /IL PAINTS ARE FOR EXPRESSING IDEAS BUT NO
ONE WANTS TO BUY OIL PAINTINGS BECAUSE PEOPLE HERE LIKE REALISTIC
PICTURESv 'LANCING AWAY FROM HIS PAINTINGS ) ASKED HIM h7HICH
DO YOU LIKE MOREv h/IL PAINTING OF COURSEv HE RESPONDED CASUALLY
h7ATERCOLORS ARE FOR WORK OIL PAINTS FOR MY OWN PLEASUREv
,OOKING AROUND THE RECTANGULAR ROOM OF THE ART SCHOOL AND
INTO THE THREE SMALLER ROOMS BRANCHING OFF FROM THE MAIN ONE
ONE FACT REMAINED CLEAR THE PAINTINGS HEREˆALL PRODUCED BY THE
STUDENTSˆWERE OF WATERCOLORS
4HE COUNTRYSIDE THE TRADITIONAL DANCERS THE GLORIOUS
)NDEPENDENCE -ONUMENT THE MAJESTIC 7AT 0HNOM THE
PORTRAITSxALL EXACT AND REALISTIC REPLICAS ) WOULD SOON LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE HISTORY OF +HMER ART AND THE YEAR OLD TRADITION
OF PAINTING THINGS hAS THEY ARE NOT AS WE THINK THEY AREv &OR NOW
THOUGH ) WOULD IDENTIFY THESE ONLY AS hREALISTIC PAINTINGSv
! MINUTES WALK DOWN THE RESIDENTIAL ALLEYWAY OPENS INTO A
SMALL ROAD COVERED IN QUIVERING SHADOWS (ANDWASHED LAUNDRY
SWAYS FROM THE GRIMACING BALCONIES AND WIREFENCES SURROUNDING
THE CARDBOARD METAL AND WOODEN SHACKS THAT RANGE FROM ROOMS
OF THREE BY THREE FEET TO APARTMENT BUILDINGS OF FOUR OR lVE
STORIES ,UXURIOUS AND FRESHLY PAINTED VILLAS SMILE PRETENTIOUSLY AT
THE MAJORITY OF POVERTYSTRICKEN #AMBODIANS WHO ARE TOO BUSY
SURVIVING TO NOTICE THEM
(ALF A BLOCK AWAY LAY THE MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF THIS
CAPITAL CITY 4HE 2OYAL 0ALACE THE .ATIONAL -USEUM AND THE
BOARDWALK ALONG THE 4ONLE 3AP 2IVER SHIMMER PROUDLY FOR
THE HUNDREDS OF TOURISTS WHO WALK BY THEM 9ET AS MUCH AS
THEY TRY THESE BUILDINGS CANNOT HIDE THE REALITY ON THE STREETS
6ENDORS SQUAT IN RAGS AND SOILED CLOTHING NEXT TO STEAMING POTS
OF COOKING FOOD 4HE SMOKE AND DIRT SEEMS TO POSSESS AN AGING
EFFECT ON THEIR YOUNG SKIN WHICH IS OFTEN DARK AND WRINKLED
! COVER OF SMOG CASTS A THICK BLANKET OVER THE STREETDWELLERS
LINING THE SIDEWALKS 4HEY SELL ANYTHING THEY CANˆA BOWL OF
SOUP MEAT COOKED NOODLES FRIED DOUGH VEGETABLES RANDOM
TRINKETS BREAD ICE CREAM SUGARCANE JUICE /FTEN THEIR FAMILIES
SIT ALONGSIDE THEM /NE DOES NOT SEE THIS REALITY HOWEVER IN THE
hREALISTIC PAINTINGSv OF THE WATERCOLOR ARTISTS
.EAR INTERSECTIONS MANY MEN DRESSED IN WORNOUT
PANTS AND WRINKLED SHIRTS SMILE AS ) WALK BY -OSTLY THEY
ARE COUNTRYSIDE FARMERS WHO HAVE HAD A POOR CROP SEASON OR
STUDENTS WHO NEED MONEY AND HAVE COME TO THE CITY TO TRY TO
MAKE AN EXTRA BUCK OR TWO 4HEY ASK IF ) NEED A LIFT YELLING AS
IF CALLING ME BY NAME THE ONLY %NGLISH WORD THEY MAY KNOW
h-/4/2")+%v ) SHAKE MY HEAD AND QUIETLY REPLY ATE AKUN
NO THANK YOU
4HESE TWO WORD CONVERSATIONS REPEAT THEMSELVES EACH DAY AS )
MAKE THE SEVENMINUTE WALK FROM MY APARTMENT TO THE ART SCHOOL
(OWEVER MOST STRIKING REMAIN THE SILENT AND GRIM OLDER WOMENˆ
THE TRAGEDIES OF DECADES BURNING DIMLY IN THEIR EYESˆWHO STILL
SMILE AT ME WHEN ) WALK BY THEM IN THEIR SQUATTING POSITIONS
3TROLLING INTO THE ART SCHOOL ) LEAVE BEHIND ME THE SOUNDS
WHICH DOMINATE THE STREETS FROM AM EACH MORNING VOICES
OF CHILDREN CRYING SCREAMING AND SQUEALING PIGS lGHTING
AND DOGS BARKING MOTHERS AND WOMEN CALLING OUT MACHINES
CHURNING GROWLING AND PAUSING BROOMS SWEEPING AND VENDORS
DISMANTLING THEIR CARTS CARS GROANING IN THE BACKGROUND BIRDS
WHISTLING AND THE SHARP HARSHLYPITCHED SOUNDS OF METAL AND
STONE BEING USED RIDDEN CUT AND MOLDED
)NSIDE THE 2EYUM !RT 3CHOOL SMALL HANDS lNISH DRAWING
THEIR FAMILIES FEET mATTEN AGAINST THE mOOR AND ARMS RAISE THE
BODY UP HIGH TO HAVE A LOOK h0ROUD CONTENT DISAPPOINTED OR
UNSATISlEDv ) WONDER TO MYSELF -OST SEEM HAPPY AND JOYFULLY
BACK AWAY TO ADMIRE THE LARGER PICTURE MADE BY THE WHOLE CLASS
-ANY FAMILIES AND IMAGES HANDS AND FEET STAND AND OBSERVE
OR SIT AND WORK )MAGES OF FAMILIES HUGGING EATING DRESSING
LAUGHING POSING POINTING TEACHING OR CARESSING 'ROSA GROSA
GROSA 4HESE EXCITED lNGERS AND TOES lLL THE SADDENED SPACE OF THE
SCHOOL 4ODAY WE DO NOT USE WATERCOLORS TO PAINT
0ART ))
4HE HISTORY BEHIND THE SMILING FACES OF THE 2EYUM !RT 3CHOOL
STUDENTS IS AN UNHAPPY ONE "ETWEEN ˆA YEAR LABELED
AS h9EAR :EROvˆAND THE +HMER 2OUGE KILLED NEARLY
TWO MILLION #AMBODIANS 4HE REGIMES COMMUNIST DICTATOR
0OL 0OT PURSUED AN IDEAL IN WHICH HE ATTEMPTED TO PURIFY THE
COUNTRY BY RIDDING IT OF CAPITALISTIC AND 7ESTERN INmUENCES IN
HOPES OF RETURNING TO AN AGRARIANBASED SOCIETY 5NDER THIS RULE
THE +HMER 2OUGE PERCEIVED AS A THREAT ANYONE hINmUENCED BY
IMPERIALISMv INCLUDING INTELLECTUALS SKILLED WORKERS AND CITY
DWELLERS REGARDLESS OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES 0OL
0OTS REGIME EVACUATED ENTIRE
CITIES IN THE NAME OF CULTURAL
CLEANSING 0HNOM 0ENH WAS
) WOULD SOON LEARN
LABELED AS hTHE GREAT PROSTITUTE
MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY
OF THE -EKONGv 4O REACH THE
HIGHEST STATE OF PURITY THE
OF +HMER ART AND THE
+HMER 2OUGE UNHESITATINGLY
MURDERED ANYONE OPPOSED TO
YEAR OLD TRADITION
THEIR PHILOSOPHY !CCORDING TO
THEIR IDEALS ONLY THE SIMPLE
OF PAINTING THINGS hAS
UNEDUCATED AND HARDWORKING
PEASANTS WOULD REMAIN IN THE
THEY ARE NOT AS WE THINK
COUNTRYSIDE AND ALL CITIES WERE
TO BE DEMOLISHED
THEY AREv
/VER THE COURSE OF
HIS DICTATORSHIP 0OL 0OT
MASTERMINDED A GENOCIDE
WHICH MASSACRED ALMOST ONETHIRD OF THE +HMER POPULATION
AND DESTROYED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF #AMBODIAS LAND
CULTURAL TREASURES AND ACHIEVEMENTS (IS SOLDIERS LOOTED AND
BURNED TOWNS AND CITIES BRINGING THE COUNTRY TO A STATE OF UTTER
DEVASTATION "Y THE TIME THE 6IETNAMESE TROOPS TOOK OVER THE
COUNTRY IN EVERY #AMBODIAN IN THE COUNTRY HAD DIRECTLY
FELT THE IMPACT OF THE FOURYEAR GENOCIDE 9ET EVEN OVER THE NEXT
YEARS DURING WHICH TIME THE 5. AND THE 53 BECAME
)NTERNATIONAL #ENTER FOR %THICS *USTICE AND 0UBLIC ,IFE INVOLVED IN #AMBODIAS POLITICS AND lRSTTIME ELECTIONS THE
REMAINING GUERILLA FORCES OF THE +HMER 2OUGE CONTINUED TO
USE VIOLENCE TO TERRORIZE THE #AMBODIAN POPULATION 7HEN 0OL
0OT DIED IN MANY #AMBODIANS APATHETICALLY FOLLOWED
THE NEWS ON TELEVISION NOT EVEN KNOWING WHETHER TO BELIEVE
IT OR NOT !FTER ALL MANY OF THE FORMER +HMER SOLDIERS AND
LEADERS STILL RESIDE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AND CITIES TODAY OCCUPYING
POSITIONS RANGING FROM MOTORBIKE DRIVERS TO BUSINESS OWNERS TO
GOVERNMENT OFlCIALS
0ERHAPS THE +HMER 2OUGES MOST SHOCKING ASPECT LAY IN
WHAT ITS NAME ALREADY CONVEYED THE +HMER 2OUGE WAS MADE
UP OF #AMBODIANS 0OL 0OT WHO WAS HIMSELF A &RENCHEDUCATED
#AMBODIAN USED #AMBODIANS TO KILL #AMBODIANS !S 0OL
0OT INCREASED HIS STRICT STANDARDS FOR PURIlCATION IT BECAME
CLEAR THAT EVERY #AMBODIAN WOULD AT SOME POINT FALL INTO THE
TRAITOR CATEGORY 4RUST PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE THROUGHOUT THE
GENOCIDEˆONE LEARNED NEVER TO TRUST ANYONE 5NFORTUNATELY BUT
PREDICTABLY THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF THIS MENTALITY STILL VIBRATE
THROUGHOUT THE #AMBODIAN POPULATION TODAY
7ITH THE REIGN OF TERROR CAST OVER #AMBODIANS BEGINNING
TO SIMMER DOWN OVER THE PAST DECADE THE COUNTRY HAS SEEN AN
INmUX OF FOREIGN DIPLOMATS WORKERS AND NONGOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS .'/S !DDITIONALLY #AMBODIA AND ITS
RELATIVELY UNKNOWN HISTORY HAS BEGUN TO INTEREST OUTSIDERS WHO
HAD HEARD LITTLE ABOUT ONE OF THE WORST GENOCIDES OF THE PAST
YEARS !FFECTED BY THIS INCREASED AWARENESS )NGRID -UAN
AT THE TIME A GRADUATE STUDENT AT #OLUMBIA 5NIVERSITY BEGAN
HER DISSERTATION IN #AMBODIA ON MODERN ART HISTORY h) WAS
INTERESTED IN WHAT MODERN ART HISTORY MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN A
PLACE LIKE #AMBODIA WHICH IS SO OFTEN CONSIGNED TO A GLORIOUS
ARCHITECTURAL PASTv SHE SAYS h.O ONE SEEMED TO THINK THAT ART
WAS ALSO MADE IN #AMBODIA DURING THE TH CENTURYv 3OON
AFTER SHE MET ,Y $ARAVUTH A &RENCHEDUCATED #AMBODIAN WHO
ESCAPED THE WRATH OF THE +HMER 2OUGE BY mEEING TO &RANCE
AND RETURNED TO HIS NATIVE HOMELAND ONLY YEARS LATER 4OGETHER
THEY INSTALLED A NUMBER OF WELLRECEIVED SMALL EXHIBITIONS
7HEN OFFERED A GRANT TO CONTINUE SUCH DISPLAYS THE UNEXPECTED
SEEDS OF THE 2EYUM !RT 3CHOOL BEGAN TO SPROUT )N )NGRID AND $ARAVUTH OFlCIALLY FOUNDED 2EYUM hIN ORDER TO
PROVIDE A FORUM FOR RESEARCH PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION OF
TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY #AMBODIAN ARTS AND CULTUREv
-OST IMPORTANTLY 2EYUM WOULD SERVE AS A FREE PUBLIC SPACE
WHICH WOULD HOST A VARIETY OF PERFORMANCES CONCERTS LECTURES
AND DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE WALLS WHICH CONTAINED ITS EXHIBITS
)TS MISSION STATEMENT READ AND STILL READS
h7HEN 2EYUM WAS ESTABLISHED IN LATE FEW SPACES
EXISTED IN 0HNOM 0ENH FOR MOUNTING EXHIBITIONS 4HOSE
VENUES WHICH DID SHOW WORK TENDED EITHER TO OFFER PERMANENT
EXHIBITIONS OF ART OBJECTS OR TO PROVIDE REPETITIVE COMMERCIAL
PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES FOR THE TOURIST MARKET 7ITHIN
THIS CONTEXT 2EYUM DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A SPACE IN WHICH A
CHANGING SERIES OF EXHIBITIONS COULD ADDRESS A WIDE VARIETY OF
TOPICS NOT ONLY IN THE VISUAL ARTS BUT WITHIN BROADER REALMS
4HE !RT OF #OEXISTENCE%THICS AND #OEXISTENCE 3TUDENT &ELLOWS
OF CULTURE AND SOCIETY !RT EXHIBITIONS ORGANIZED AT 2EYUM
AIM TO FOSTER CREATIVITY AND CRITICAL THINKING WHILE PROVIDING
CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE AND
CREATE NEW WORKv
)N PURSUING THIS MISSION 2EYUM HAS HOSTED A VARIETY OF
EXHIBITS IN SUCH VARYING FACETS AS THE THEME OF COMMUNICATION
PAINTING HISTORY THE LEGACY OF ABSENCE hIN WHICH +HMER ARTISTS
WERE ASKED TO CONSIDER THE AFTERMATH OF THE +HMER 2OUGEv
PAINTED STORIES OF INDIVIDUAL LIVES AN EXPLORATION OF MODERN ART
POST#AMBODIAS INDEPENDENCE VISIONS OF THE FUTURE AND CALLING
THE SOULS !LL OF THESE EXHIBITS FUNCTION TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT
A SPACE FOR LAMENTATION QUESTIONING REmECTION DISCUSSION AND
PERHAPS RECONCILIATION WITH THE PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE
)NITIALLY CONSISTING OF AN ART GALLERY 2EYUMS SUCCESS HAS
ALLOWED IT TO EXPAND ITS RESEARCH FACILITY AND PUBLISHING COMPONENT
INTO SEPARATE SPACES 4HE SUPPORT OF AN EAGER SPONSOR ALLOWED
2EYUM TO OPEN THE !RT 3CHOOL WHERE ) WORKED WHICH AIMS TO
OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE TO CHILDREN WHO WOULD OTHERWISE REMAIN
UNSUPERVISED DURING THE TIME WHEN THEY ARE NOT ATTENDING REGULAR
SCHOOL !N APPLICATION PROCESS GUIDES THE SELECTION OF SOME OF THE
POOREST BUT MOST TALENTED YOUTH RANGING IN AGES FROM ABOUT SEVEN
TO THAT MAKE UP THE OR SO STUDENTS WHO SWITCH OFF BETWEEN
MORNING AND AFTERNOON SESSIONS
"Y MEANS OF A FELLOWSHIP OFFERED BY MY UNIVERSITY )
OBTAINED THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AT 2EYUM AS A STUDENT INTERN
AND FOUND MYSELF PARTICULARLY DRAWN TO THE CHARMING ATMOSPHERE
OF THE !RTS 3CHOOL )T WOULD NOT TAKE LONG TO LEARN THAT THE !RT
3CHOOL THE 2EYUM 'ALLERY AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY
REPRESENT IN MICROCOSM THE VERY LARGE AND SIGNIlCANT ISSUES
CONFRONTING #AMBODIA TODAY 4HROUGH ITS EXAMPLE ONE lNDS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ANALYZE THE ROLE OF ART INTERCULTURAL WORK AND
RELATIONSHIPS IN #AMBODIAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE
0ART )))
)T IS A JOKE BETWEEN )NGRID THE $IRECTOR OF 2EYUM AND HER OTHER
7ESTERN FRIENDS THAT THE MOST IMPROVED PART OF 0HNOM 0ENH HAS
BEEN RELATED TO THE CONDITION OF THE DOGS 7HILE SUCH REMARKS
OFTEN REVEAL MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER THAN THE SUBJECT IT REMAINS
TRUE THAT THE CHANGES IN THE TREATMENT OF DOGS AS PETS OVER THE
PAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE SIGNIlCANTLY BETTERED THEIR STANDARD OF
LIVING FROM DISASTROUS TO BEARABLE (UMOR ASIDE WHEN COMPARED
TO ANY CHANGES WITHIN THE #AMBODIAN PEOPLE )NGRIDS COMMENT
MAY CONTAIN MORE TRUTH THAN MOST INDIVIDUALS WITH ANY
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT #AMBODIAS PAST MIGHT LIKE TO ADMIT
h4HE ONE THING WHICH #AMBODIANS HAVE YET TO
EXPERIENCE IS THERAPYv SHE STATED ONE NIGHT OVER DINNER AT
HER RIVER HOUSE ) SAT ACROSS FROM HER LISTENING TO THE CYNICAL
THOUGHTS EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUSTED EXPRESSION SHE TYPICALLY
WEARS ON HER FACE !LTHOUGH HARSH HER CONSISTENT CYNICISM AND
SARCASM ALWAYS SERVED TO CRACK OPEN MY WALLS OF IGNORANCE AND
NAÉVET£ h#AMBODIANS STILL HAVE NOT PROCESSED NOR COME TO AN
UNDERSTANDING OF THE EVENTS IN THEIR COUNTRY FROM OVER TWENTY
YEARS AGO 7ITHOUT THIS HELP #AMBODIANS WILL REMAIN CRUEL
MANIPULATIVE CORRUPT PEOPLE WHO ALWAYS ACT FOR THE PRESENT
AND DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE A DOLLAR -OST #AMBODIANS
ARE RUTHLESS $AN )T WILL JUST TAKE YOU SOME TIME TO REALIZE ITv
3CANNING THE SMALL SPACE OF THE 2EYUM !RT 3CHOOL ONE
lNDS IT DIFlCULT TO IMAGINE THE MANIPULATIVE AND CORRUPT
SIDES OF THE SMILING AND BUBBLY STUDENTS 3ITTING AROUND LARGE
TABLES OR BUNDLED TOGETHER ON THE mOOR THE CHILDREN APPEAR
MORE AS SYMBOLS OF FADING INNOCENCE RATHER THAN HEARTLESS
MANIPULATORS 7HILE THEY COULD NEVER BE DESCRIBED AS ENTIRELY
NAÉVEˆTHE PAIN AND SUFFERING OF THEIR PARENTS GENERATION
REMAINS TOO CLOSE TO BE IGNOREDˆTHEY ALSO STILL POSSESS A SENSE
OF YOUTHFUL PLAYFULNESS LONG LOST IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO
HAVE SEEN ENOUGH HORROR TO QUESTION EVEN THE SANCTITY OF TRUST
BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS
h4HIS WAR HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TRUST ANYONE 7HEN
CHILDREN KILL THEIR OWN PARENTS OR HUSBANDS SACRIlCE THEIR FAMILIES
IT IS CLEAR THAT EVERYONE IS LIVING TO SURVIVEv SAID &OUSING 3EM
A YEAROLD OUTSPOKEN #AMBODIAN ONE OF THE FEW WILLING TO
OPENLY COMMENT ON HIS SOCIETY AND CULTURE h$URING THE TIME OF
0OL 0OT PARENTS WOULD RISK THEIR LIVES TO STEAL A BAG OF RICE TO FEED
THEIR CHILDREN AND THE FOLLOWING DAY THEIR CHILDREN WOULD TURN
THEM IN TO THE SOLDIERS JUST SO THAT THEY COULD RECEIVE ANOTHER BAG
OF RICE 7IVES WOULD TURN AGAINST THEIR HUSBANDS FATHERS AGAINST
THEIR KIDS )VE LEARNED FROM THIS THAT NOT EVEN BLOODLINE GUARANTEES
LOYALTY AND TRUST 9OU CANNOT TRUST ANYONE BUT YOURSELFv
!T THE !RT 3CHOOL TODAY ) HAVE ASSIGNED THE STUDENTS
THE TASK OF IDENTIFYING THEIR FAVORITE PART OF 0HNOM 0ENH AND
PICTORIALLY REPRESENTING IT IN A CREATIVE WAY -ANY STUDENTS
CHOOSE TO DRAW LOCATIONS COMMONLY FOUND ON TOURIST POSTCARDS
SUCH AS THE 2OYAL 0ALACE AND THE RIVERSIDE (OWEVER AFTER OVER
A MONTH AND A HALF OF WORKING WITH THEM ON WAYS TO INCLUDE
INTERPRETATION IN THEIR ARTWORK THEY PAINT THESE COMMON SCENES
IN UNUSUAL WAYS ABSTRACT SHAPES DESIGNS AND HIDDEN WORDS lLL
THE IMAGES SOME STUDENTS EVEN PAINT WITH OIL PAINTS /THERS
PAINT IMAGES OF THEIR HOMES THEIR SIBLINGS AND THE JOBS IN WHICH
THEIR PARENTS WORK
7HILE WATCHING THEM CREATE PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL SCENES
) WONDER ABOUT THE VARIOUS TYPES OF FAMILIES TO WHICH EACH OF
THESE STUDENTS RETURN AT THE END OF THE DAY 3OME TRAVEL ONLY MINUTES WHILE OTHERS RIDE THEIR BICYCLES AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GET
BACK HOME 3OME LIVE SO FAR AWAY THAT THEY INSTEAD REMAIN AT THE
SCHOOL AND SLEEP ON THE mOOR EVERY NIGHT SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTING
AS GUARDS -Y INTERACTIONS WITH THEM AT THE SCHOOL REVEALED LITTLE
ABOUT THEIR HOME LIVES
9ET FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STUDENTS WHEN OUTSIDE THE
SCHOOL ) WAS ABLE TO LEARN MUCH MORE ABOUT THEIR THOUGHTS AND
LIVES /NE YEAR OLD STUDENT 3UPON WITH WHOM ) WOULD OFTEN
WALK ALONG THE RIVER USED THE SPACE AT THE !RT 3CHOOL NOT ONLY
FOR LEARNING BUT FOR EATING AND SLEEPING AS WELL (IS FAMILY LIVED
HOURS AWAY IN THE PROVINCES AND THROUGH NIGHTGUARDING THE
SCHOOL 2EYUM GAVE HIM A SMALL STIPEND AS WELL AS HOUSING ON THE
!RT 3CHOOL mOOR
/N ONE 3UNDAY AFTERNOON 3UPON AND ) SAT ALONG THE
BOARDWALK SKETCHING THE BAREFOOT AND SHIRTLESS CHILDREN BEGGING
FOR MONEY AND OTHERWISE lLLING THE SPACE WITH THEIR SCREAMS
CRIES AND GAMES 5PON SEEING 3UPON AND ) SITTING ALONGSIDE EACH
OTHER A GROUP OF ABOUT CHILDREN WOULD OFTEN SURROUND US
ON ALL SIDES IN INQUIRY OF OUR ACTIVITIES )N #AMBODIA ONE DOES
NOT OFTEN SEE FOREIGNERS SITTING WITH NATIVES -OREOVER PEOPLE
DO NOT USE PUBLIC SPACES TO ENGAGE IN SUCH LEISURELY ACTIVITIES AS
READING OR DRAWING FOR PLEASURE h4HE CONCEPT OF @TAKING A WALK
IS COMPLETELY FOREIGN TO THEMv )NGRID ONCE TOLD ME WHILE WE
WALKED ALONG THE BEACH OF A SMALL ISLAND ACROSS THE RIVER FROM HER
WEEKEND HOME h#AMBODIANS WALK TO THE MARKET OR TO WORK
BUT THEY DO NOT WALK JUST FOR FUN 7HEN ) TELL THEM )M TAKING A
WALK THEY ALWAYS LOOK AT ME WITH A CONFUSED EXPRESSION AND ASK
@4AKING A WALK TO WHEREv
3ITTING ON THE BOARDWALK WALL ACROSS FROM 3UPON )
ATTEMPTED TO SKETCH HIS WAVY BLACK HAIR HIS CHISELED CHEEKBONES
HIS EAGER SMILE AND THE SMALL FRAME OF HIS BODY ) BECAME SO
FRUSTRATED WITH MY EMBARRASSING DRAWING SKILLS THAT UPON
SEEING MY SKETCH HE OFFERED A FEW POINTERS TO HELP ME IMPROVE
IT 7HILE DOING SO A SMALL GIRL OF NO MORE THAN YEARS OLD
WEARING A FADED BLUE SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT AND A TORN RED AND YELLOW
CHECKERED SKIRT SAT DOWN ON THE STONE WALL NEXT TO US AND
PROPPED HER NAKED BROTHER ON HER KNEE 4HROUGH CURIOUS EYES
SHE SILENTLY STARED AT US 3UPON GLANCED UP AT HER AND THOUGHT FOR
A MOMENT BEFORE REMARKING TO ME h) MISS MY FAMILY VERY MUCH
4HEY NO LIVE IN 0HNOM 0ENH 7HEN ) SEE LITTLE GIRLS ) PRETEND
THEY MY SISTER OR IF ) SEE OLD GIRL ) PRETEND THEY MY MOTHER )
PRETEND WHAT THEY LOOK LIKEv 4HE CORNER OF HIS EYES lLLED UP
WITH MOISTURE AS HE PROCEEDED TO MASTERFULLY SKETCH THIS LITTLE GIRL
AND HER BABY BROTHER .OTICING THAT SHE WAS HIS MODEL SHE SAT UP
PROUDLY HOLDING HER BROTHER AND A WIDE GRIN SPREAD ACROSS HER
FACE ) HAD SEEN THIS GIRL OFTEN BY THE RIVERSIDE BUT THIS WAS THE
lRST TIME ) HAD EVER SEEN HER STILL AND QUIET
) COULDNT HELP BUT THINK ABOUT THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN 3UPON
AND THIS LITTLE GIRL "OTH WERE LIVING ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT FAMILIES
TAKING CARE OF THAT WHICH WAS OF MOST IMPORTANCE TO THEM 4HE GIRL
HAD HER BROTHER 3UPON HAD HIS SKETCHBOOK AND FANTASIES
0ART )6
4HE OIL PAINTINGS IN 2ITHS SMALL SECOND mOOR APARTMENT SHINE IN
DAZZLING CONTRAST TO THE PEELING SPLINTERS OF WOODEN PLANKS WHICH
MAKE UP THE WALLS OF THE YOUNG 2EYUM !RT 3CHOOL TEACHERS HOME
4O THE RIGHT OF A DOORFRAME LEADING TO THE BACK OF THE APARTMENT
HANGS A PORTRAIT OF A #AMBODIAN MAN IN HIS FORTIES OR lFTIES 7HEN
) ASKED 2ITHS WIFE ABOUT THIS PAINTING SHE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT HER
HUSBAND HAD CREATED IT FROM THE ONLY PHOTOGRAPH OF HIS FATHER THAT
HE HAS A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN BEFORE THE TIME OF THE +HMER 2OUGE
7E BOTH GLANCED AT THE BALCONY WHERE 2ITH WAS PAINTING WITH
WATERCOLORS AND SHE LOWERED HER EYES AND MEEKLY WHISPERED TO ME
h2ITHS FATHER WAS KILLED BY THE +HMER 2OUGEv ) GLANCED AT THE OIL
PAINTING ONE MORE TIME THE SMOOTH STROKES THE THREEDIMENSIONAL
TEXTURE THE ARDOR EXUDING FROM THE CANVAS ) TURNED AROUND AND
)NTERNATIONAL #ENTER FOR %THICS *USTICE AND 0UBLIC ,IFE NOTICED 2ITH STANDING UP FROM HIS DRAWING TABLE OUTSIDE (E
WALKED INTO THE APARTMENT TO RETRIEVE ANOTHER PENCIL AND NOTICED
ME STANDING BY HIS FATHERS PORTRAIT 7HEN ) LOOKED UP AT IT AGAIN
HE TOLD ME THAT THIS PAINTING WAS HIS FAVORITE h-Y FATHER WAS TAKEN
AWAY BY THE +HMER 2OUGE TO STUDY AND BE EDUCATEDv HE SAID
h4HATS WHAT THE SOLDIERS TOLD US ) KNOW THAT HE IS STILL STUDYING
WITH THEM NOWv
7HEN THINKING ABOUT HIM LATER IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME
THAT 2ITHS INTERPRETATION OF HIS FATHERS FATE DEMONSTRATED AN
EXPLANATION OF HIS FATHERS DEATH ON HIS OWN TERMS )T WAS NO
COINCIDENCE THAT 2ITH HAD ALSO DECIDED TO REPRODUCE HIS FATHERS
PHOTOGRAPH IN OIL PAINTS NOT WATERCOLORS 4HE PAINTING HAD HIS
FATHER GAZING OFF INTO THE DISTANCE 4HROUGH THE ABSTRACTIONS
EMPHASIZED BY THE STROKES OF THE OIL PAINTS IN HIS FATHERS FACE
SKIN AND CASUAL CLOTHING ONE COULD UNDERSTAND THAT 2ITH
BELIEVED HIS FATHER TO RETAIN HIS CAPACITY TO hSTUDYv TO LEARN AND
TO JUDGE EVEN WHILE UNDER THE THUMB OF OPPRESSION (E VIEWED
HIS FATHER AS COMPLETELY ALIVE EVEN INTO THE PRESENT DAY 4HROUGH
DOING SO HE CREATED AN IMAGE OF HIS FATHER WHICH WAS HIS OWN
TO TREASURE ADMIRE AND REMEMBER 2ITH HAD TAKEN A STANDARD
PHOTOGRAPH AND INFUSED HIS OWN INTERPRETATION AND COMMENTARY
ON HIS FATHERS LIFE CONSEQUENTLY PRODUCING A PORTRAIT AND A STORY
THAT ALLOWED FOR HIM TO COMMUNICATE HIS THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS
ABOUT HIS FATHERS DISAPPEARANCE TO HIMSELF AND OTHERS
&OR THE SAME REASON THAT 2ITH BENElTED FROM PAINTING HIS
FATHER IN OIL PAINTS ONE MUST QUESTION WHAT OTHER #AMBODIAN
ARTISTS MIGHT GAIN FROM INCORPORATING INTERPRETIVE CREATIVITY
INTO THEIR WORKS #ERTAINLY %ASTERN ART EMPLOYS ITS OWN FORM OF
CREATIVITY 4HE DETAILED PAINTINGS OF TRADITIONAL !BSARA DANCERS
OR THE BEAUTIFUL WATER FESTIVAL HELD IN 0HNOM 0ENH EACH YEAR
DEMONSTRATE A COLLECTION OF IDEAS COLORS AND PRECISION WHICH
REMAIN VERY UNIQUE TO #AMBODIAN ARTWORK (OWEVER THESE
FORMS DATE YEARS BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE +HMER
CULTURE AND SERVE THE PURPOSE OF PRESERVING HISTORY AND ANCIENT
CULTURE 4HIS FORM OF ARTISTIC CREATIVITY DOES NOT SERVE AS A
MEDIUM THROUGH WHICH TO DOCUMENT PRESENT HISTORY IN THE
MAKING AND THUS DIFFERS GREATLY FROM THE WAY IN WHICH MANY ART
FORMS FUNCTION IN THE 7EST #OULD THE USE OF A MORE 7ESTERN
STYLE OF CREATIVITY OPEN UP DOORS INTO THE PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE
THAT WOULD OTHERWISE REMAIN CLOSED 7OULD THIS TYPE OF CREATIVITY
ALLOW FOR THE SOCIETY TO MORE OPENLY QUESTION ITS VALUES NORMS
AND WAY OF LIFE /R WOULD CREATIVITY AS DElNED BY 7ESTERN
CULTUREˆINTERPRETING ISSUES EVENTS AND PEOPLE IN ORIGINAL
EXPRESSIVE AND UNIQUE WAYSˆHAVE NO PLACE IN #AMBODIAS
CULTURE 7HEN ANSWERING THESE QUERIES TWO ALLENCOMPASSING
QUESTIONS ARISE &IRST DO THE BENElTS OF THE USE OF CREATIVITY
OUTWEIGH THE COSTS 3ECONDLY DOES 7ESTERN STYLE CREATIVITY EVEN
HAVE A PLACE IN THIS SOCIETY
)N ADDRESSING THE INQUIRY ABOUT POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE
FEATURES WHICH CHARACTERIZE THE INCLUSION OF CREATIVITY INTO
ARTWORK ONE NEED NOT LOOK FURTHER THAN THE 7ESTERN HISTORY OF
ART !N EXPLOSION OF ARTWORK AIMED AT REACHING ENLIGHTENMENT
AND WISDOM MARKED THE END OF THE -IDDLE !GES AND BEGINNING
OF THE -ODERN WORLD &OLLOWING THIS PERIODˆTHE SˆWERE
4HE !RT OF #OEXISTENCE%THICS AND #OEXISTENCE 3TUDENT &ELLOWS
A SERIES OF MOVEMENTS ALL WHICH EXPLORED VARYING VENUES
METHODS AND STYLES THROUGH WHICH ARTISTIC INVESTIGATION COULD
TAKE PLACE 4HE PERIOD BETWEEN THE S AND S INCLUDED A
TREMENDOUS OUTBURST OF CREATIVITY AND WAS HOME TO MOVEMENTS
RANGING FROM 2OMANTICISM AND -ODERNISM TO 2EALISM AND
)MPRESSIONISM %NTERING INTO THE TH CENTURY ONE lNDS THE
MOVEMENTS OF %XPRESSIONISM AND #UBISM HIGHLIGHTING THE
ABSTRACTION OF OBJECTIVE REALITY AND FOCUSING ON THE hINNER
EXPERIENCEv OF SPIRIT DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH 4HE PROGRESSION
OF THIS ART CORRESPONDED WITH A SHIFT IN THE 7ESTERN WORLD AS
AN INTEREST IN INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSION BECAME QUITE POPULAR
#ONSEQUENTLY CREATIVE ARTWORK PROVIDED THE PERFECT OUTLET
THROUGH WHICH TO COMMUNICATE NEW IDEAS TO THE POPULATION AS
A WHOLE OR TO SPECIlC GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS IN SOCIETY .ATURALLY
THIS GAVE RISE TO PUBLIC DEBATES SPECULATION AND QUESTIONING OF
THE CHANGING ROLE AND POSSIBILITIES POSSESSED BY ART )N THIS WAY
THE ADDITION OF CREATIVITY INTO ARTWORK POSITIVELY SERVED A SOCIETY
WHICH PROVED READY FOR A BREAKAWAY FROM THE REALITIES OF EVERYDAY
LIVING #REATIVITY ALLOWED INTERESTED 7ESTERNERS TO QUESTION
ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR LIVES BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THE MEANS TO
TANGIBLY PRODUCE ANY AND ALL IMAGES IN THEIR MINDS FOR THOSE WHO
EXPRESSED INTEREST IN SEEING THEM
(OWEVER THROUGHOUT MY TIME IN #AMBODIA ) FOUND MYSELF
WONDERING WHETHER THIS SAME BENElT COULD APPLY TO A SOCIETY THAT
DOESNT CONDONE INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSION AND DOES NOT ENCOURAGE
CHANGE 4HUS THE QUESTION EVOLVED CAN A TRAUMATIZED SOCIETY
WHICH DOES NOT PLACE UTILITY ON THE EFFECTS OF PERSONAL EXPRESSION
GAIN ANYTHING FROM ATTEMPTING TO EXPLORE ART AS COMMUNICATION OR
THERAPY &OR ME THE MOST ACCESSIBLE EXAMPLE BECAME THE STUDENTS
AND THE CURRICULUM OF THE 2EYUM !RT 3CHOOL 4HE STUDENTS
COMING FROM A DIVERSITY OF INCOME LEVELS AND FROM RESIDENTIAL
AREAS RANGING IN DISTANCE FROM A BLOCK AWAY TO AN ENTIRE DAYS TRIP
TO THE COUNTRYSIDE MAKE UP A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF MANY OF
THE FAMILIES OF 0HNOM 0ENH AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS )F ONE
CONSIDERS THE SCHOOLS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AS REPRESENTATIVE OF
SUCH A POPULATION THEN IT SEEMS FAIR TO SAY THAT THE EFFECTS WHICH
CREATIVITY COULD HAVE ON THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL WOULD BE
SIMILAR TO THOSE DISPLAYED BY MANY #AMBODIANS
! TYPICAL DAY AT THE !RT 3CHOOL INCLUDES ABOUT CHILDREN
SPLIT BETWEEN A MORNING AND AFTERNOON SESSION ARRIVING AT
THE SCHOOL AND HAVING ASSIGNED A TASK TO THEM THAT MUST BE
COMPLETED WITHIN A GIVEN TIME FRAME USUALLY BY THE END OF THE
CLASS SESSION 4HE DAYS OF THE WEEK DIFFER ON THE BASIS OF THE TYPE
OF ARTWORK TAUGHT EACH DAY 4HESE FORMS INCLUDE PAINTING FACES
AND BODIES DRAWING TRADITIONAL FORMS OF ART AND A FREE DAY USED
TO CATCH UP ON PAST ASSIGNMENTS OR COPY IMAGES OUT OF PICTURE
BOOKS MAGAZINES OR PHOTOGRAPHS 7ITH SO MUCH FOCUS ON
REPLICATION THE STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL mAWLESSLY REPRODUCE EVERY
IMAGE THEY SEE #ONSIDERING THAT THE MAJORITY OF 0HNOM 0ENHS
ART SHOPS AND GALLERIES DISPLAY A WIDE ASSORTMENT OF REPLICAS OF
THE 2OYAL 0ALACE !NGKOR 7AT 4RADITIONAL +HMER $ANCERS AND
THE COUNTRYSIDE THE SKILL OF REPRODUCTION REPRESENTS ONE THAT
COMMERCIAL ARTISTS USE HEAVILY &URTHERMORE IN A SCHOOL WHERE
THE THOUGHTS OF MANY STUDENTS OFTEN REVERT BACK TO SEEKING
THEIR EVENTUAL SOURCE OF INCOME THE STUDENTS SEE THE TRADITIONAL
FORMS OF REPLICATION AS WELLRECEIVED BY BOTH THE TOURIST AND
LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THUS THEY TOO WANT TO PURSUE IT ,OGICALLY
THOUGH THIS PATTERN DOES NOT ACT AS EVIDENCE THAT THE OVERSEAS
MARKET DOES NOT DESIRE CREATIVE FORMS OF #AMBODIAN ART )NSTEAD
IT SIMPLY DEMONSTRATES THE DIFlCULTY OF SEPARATING ONESELF FROM
THE NORMS OF A SOCIETY THAT EMPHASIZES CONFORMITY ON THE BASIS
OF PREEXISTING PATTERNS 4HE 7ESTERN TOURIST MARKET MAY JUMP
AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY OIL PAINTINGS OF THE PALACES MUSEUMS
AND ANCIENT TEMPLES (OWEVER FEW INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE BRAVERY
TO TRY OUT THIS OPTION 3UCH CONVENTIONALITY HIGHLIGHTS THE REALITY
OF A CULTURE THAT HAS RARELY ENCOURAGED ITS INDIVIDUALS TO SEEK
OUT THEIR OWN PATHS FOR SUCCESS )F A GROUP OF #AMBODIANS WERE
WILLING TO TEST THEIR LUCK AND EXPLORE THE RESULTS OF OPENING UP A
SHOP SELLING CREATIVE ARTWORK PERHAPS THEY WOULD QUICKLY MEET
AN EAGER INTERNATIONAL MARKET 7ITH SUCH STRONG INTERNAL PRESSURE
AGAINST THIS OPTION SCHOOLS SUCH AS THE 2EYUM !RT 3CHOOL MUST
QUESTION THEIR INTEREST AND MOTIVE FOR PUSHING FORWARD THIS
CONSUMERDRIVEN FOCUS ON ARTWORK
9ET WHAT ARE THE BENElTS OF ONLY TEACHING A TECHNIQUE THAT
MODELS WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE IN THE PAST ! CONSIDERATION
FOR OTHER FORMS OF ART AS WELL COULD RESULT IN A CULTURAL BLENDING
AND AN INTEREST FROM FOREIGN CUSTOMERS AS WELL AS LOCAL CONSUMERS
THAT THUS FAR HAS REMAINED UNKNOWN TO MANY OF THE STUDENTS
!FTER ALL THE BENElTS OF CREATIVITY AS IT APPEARS IN 7ESTERN CULTURE
COULD BE UNIVERSAL IN NATURE 7HAT IF #AMBODIAN CHILDREN AND
ADULTS COULD BENElT FROM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE THEIR
UNEXPRESSED THOUGHTS ABOUT THE RECENT PAST HISTORY AS WELL AS
THEIR CURRENT LIVES 7OULD THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO )N FACT
THROUGH AN ACTIVITY AT THE !RT 3CHOOL WHICH INVOLVED USING BOTH
THE #AMBODIAN NOTION OF MODELED ARTWORK AND THE 7ESTERN
CONCEPT OF CREATIVITY IT BECAME QUITE EVIDENT THAT NOT ONLY WERE
THE STUDENTS ABLE TO PRODUCE INNOVATIVE IMAGES BUT THAT THE
PROJECT ALSO EXCITED AND STIMULATED THEM
$URING MY SECOND WEEK AT THE !RT 3CHOOL ) ASSIGNED A
PROJECT WHICH INCLUDED THE USE OF A MODEL BUT ALSO UTILIZED ONES
IMAGINATION )N THIS TASK THE STUDENTS WERE PARTNERED UP WITH
OTHER STUDENTS AND TOLD TO IMAGINE AND DRAW HOW THEIR PARTNERS
FACE WOULD APPEAR AT YEARS OF AGE 4HIS ASSIGNMENT PROVED
MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN THE PRIOR DAYS ONE WHICH ASKED
STUDENTS TO DRAW THE MEANING OF FAMILY FOR IT COMBINED AN
ELEMENT WITH WHICH THE STUDENTS ALREADY FELT COMFORTABLEˆUSING
A MODELˆBUT ALSO ALLOWED THEM TO EXPRESS AN ORIGINAL IDEAˆA
FACE THAT NO ONE HAD SEEN BEFORE 4HE STUDENTS SEEMED ENTHUSED
BY THE PROSPECT OF CONTROLLING THEIR OWN REPRESENTATIONS OF THEIR
MODELS 3OME STUDENTS EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO CREATE A NUMBER
OF DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THEIR hOLDv PARTNER WHICH IN MANY CASES
LOOKED AS REALISTIC AS THEIR REPLICABASED DRAWINGS 4HIS PROJECT
MADE IT QUITE CLEAR THAT THE STUDENTS ALREADY POSSESSED FULL FACULTY
FOR TAPPING INTO THEIR OWN CREATIVE THOUGHTS IT WAS ONLY A MATTER
OF THE PROPER CIRCUMSTANCES
4HROUGH A VARIETY OF TASKS THAT FUSED THE 7ESTERN NOTIONS OF
ABSTRACT EXPRESSION WITH THE %ASTERN IDEA OF CONCRETE REALISM THE
STUDENTS DEMONSTRATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT THEY NOT ONLY
ENJOYED THE CREATIVE ASSIGNMENTS PLACED BEFORE THEM BUT ALSO SAW IT
AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE MODELS OF ART WITH WHICH
THEY ALREADY HAD FAMILIARITY 7HILE IT REMAINS DIFlCULT TO EXTRAPOLATE
THESE RESULTS TO THE ENTIRE #AMBODIAN POPULATION ONE CAN SUGGEST
THAT THE NOTION OF ORIGINALITY AT LEAST ALLOWED THE STUDENTS ONE MORE
LANGUAGE THROUGH WHICH TO DELIVER THEIR THOUGHTS
9ET ONE CANNOT IGNORE THE REALITY THAT THROUGH ITS MISSION
TO OFFER A FREE ARTS EDUCATION TO SOME OF 0HNOM 0ENHS TALENTED
YOUTH 2EYUM MUST ALSO TRAIN ITS STUDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN
SUPPORT THEMSELVES IN THE FUTURE )N A DEVASTATED ECONOMY SUCH
AS THAT OF #AMBODIA ARTWORK INSPIRED BY lNANCIAL REWARD MAY
ULTIMATELY REMAIN THE ONLY OPTION 5NDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES
CAN 2EYUM JUSTIFY RISKING THE FUTURE OF ITS STUDENTS BY TEACHING
THEM A FORM OF ARTWORK THAT HOLDS POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF
EITHER SUCCESS OR FAILURE )S THERE ROOM FOR THE 7ESTERNIZED
#AMBODIAN ARTIST IN #AMBODIA 3EEMINGLY THE MORE LIKELY RESULT
WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THAT EXPERIENCED BY &OUSING 3EM h7HEN )
RETURNED FROM &RANCE ) WANTED TO TELL MY FRIENDS ABOUT ALL THE
GREAT THINGS ) LEARNED THERE "UT THEY WOULD GET SO MAD AT ME
WHEN ) WOULD START TALKING ABOUT IT 4HEY ASKED @$O YOU THINK
YOU ARE BETTER THAN US NOW THAT YOU HAVE GONE TO &RANCE /F
COURSE ) DONT THINK )M BETTER ) JUST WANTED TO OPEN THEIR EYES
"UT THEY REFUSED TO LISTENv &OUSING WAS REJECTED BY HIS FRIENDS
BECAUSE OF THE CONNOTATIONSˆOPPORTUNITY WEALTH CHANGEˆ
ASSOCIATED WITH TRAVELING TO THE 7EST AND THEIR ENSUING JEALOUSY
)N THIS WAY THE CREATIVITY OF ONE INDIVIDUAL COULD PROVIDE
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS TO REJECT HIM OR HER SIMILAR TO THE
REJECTION OF #AMBODIANS WHO mED THE +HMER 2OUGE AND NOW
HAVE TRIED TO RETURN TO THEIR NATIVE COUNTRY ONLY TO BE GREETED
BY #AMBODIANS WHO LABEL THOSE THAT mED DURING THE +HMER
2OUGE AS EX#AMBODIANS WHO CAN NO LONGER CONSIDER THEMSELVES
+HMER )F PRODUCING CREATIVE ARTWORK THREATENS THE VERY WELL
BEING OF THE ARTISTˆWHICH IT COULD LIKELY DO IN A SOCIETY WHICH
DOES NOT ENCOURAGE DEVIATION FROM THE NORMSˆTHEN THE MERIT
OF INSERTING THIS CONCEPT MUST BE SCRUTINIZED ,IKEWISE EVEN IF
THE COMMUNITY ACCEPTED AN AVANTGARDE APPROACH TO ARTWORK
THE SYMBOLIC MEANING BEHIND 2ITHS COMMENTS ON THE GENERAL
LACK OF INTEREST IN OIL PAINTS COULD LEAVE MANY ARTISTS WITHOUT
ANY PAY 4HUS THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS WHICH AN INCREASED FOCUS
ON IMAGINATION COULD HAVE ON #AMBODIAN SOCIETY WEIGH HEAVILY
AGAINST THE AVAILABLE REWARDS
4HE ISSUE OF BALANCE APPEARS CRUCIAL WHEN DECIDING WHETHER
CREATIVE APPROACHES SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN PLACE IN #AMBODIAN
ARTS FUTURE 4HE EXAMPLE OF 6ANN .ATH A FRIEND OF 2EYUM OFFERS
PRICELESS INSIGHT INTO THE POSSIBLE ROLE THAT A BALANCED APPROACH
TO ARTWORK COULD PLAY "ORN IN "ATTAMBANG #AMBODIA IN 6ANN .ATH GREW UP WITH A VERY NONTRADITIONAL IMMERSION
INTO ARTWORK IN WHICH HE PAINTED MOVIE POSTERS AND PORTRAITS
)N THE +HMER 2OUGE IMPRISONED HIM IN A 0HNOM 0ENH
PRISON CALLED 4UOL 3LENG WHERE HE EXPERIENCED HORRENDOUS
TORTURE AND WAS NEARLY KILLED (E SURELY WOULD HAVE DIED ALONG
WITH THE REST OF THE THAT WERE MURDERED IN 4UOL 3LENG HAD
IT NOT BEEN FOR THE GUARDS DISCOVERY OF HIS UNUSUAL ARTISTIC TALENTS
AT WHICH POINT HE WAS ORDERED TO PAINT PROPAGANDA PORTRAITS OF 0OL
)NTERNATIONAL #ENTER FOR %THICS *USTICE AND 0UBLIC ,IFE 0OT (E AND SEVEN OTHER ARTISTS WERE THE ONLY PRISONERS TO SURVIVE
4UOL 3LENG !FTER THE WAR THE NEW GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONED HIM
TO PAINT THE ATROCITIES THAT WERE COMMITTED OFTEN HIS MEMORY
WAS LIMITED ONLY TO THE NOISES WHICH HE HEARD FROM NEARBY
CELLS (E PAINTED THE GRAPHIC SCENES AND METHODS OF TORTURE IN
A STYLE UNIQUELY HIS OWNˆA
STYLE IN WHICH THE IMAGES DID
4HE ABILITY TO
NOT LOOK LIKE PHOTOGRAPHS BUT
STILL CONTAINED A PRECISE SENSE
COMMUNICATE ONES REAL
OF ACCURACY 4HEY HANG IN THE
4UOL 3LENG MUSEUM TODAY AS AN
THOUGHTS ON PAPERˆ
ARTIFACT WHICH ALLOWS #AMBODIA
AND THE REST OF THE WORLD TO
WHETHER THROUGH ARTWORK
UNDERSTAND THE ATROCIOUSNESS THAT
OCCURRED UNDER THE RULE OF THE
WRITING PHOTOGRAPHY
+HMER 2OUGE
7HEN ) MET 6ANN .ATH
ETCˆLEADS TO A GREATER
THIS PAST SUMMER IN THE SMALL
RESTAURANT THAT HE OWNS WITH
UNDERSTANDING OF ONESELF
HIS WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN )
AND ONES SURROUNDINGS
FOUND MYSELF SURPRISED AT HIS
CALM AND PEACEFUL DEMEANOR
!DORNING THE RESTAURANT WALLS
WERE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF HIS
LATEST PAINTINGS MANY OF WHICH WERE PURCHASED BY BOTH FOREIGN
CLIENTELE AND LOCAL CUSTOMERS AND WHICH EXPRESSED A MUCH MORE
OPTIMISTIC REALITY THAN THE ONE PRESENTED IN HIS IMAGES OF 4UOL
3LENG 7HILE LISTENING TO HIM NARRATE THE STORIES BEHIND EACH
ONE IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT THERE EXISTED A SIGNIlCANT DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE TYPE OF REALISM THAT .ATH PRESENTED IN HIS ARTWORK
AND THAT PURSUED BY THE SCHOOL 7HILE MOST #AMBODIAN ARTISTS
FOCUSED ON PAINTING REALISTIC PAINTINGSˆREPLICAS OF PORTRAITS
BUILDINGS AND THE COUNTRYSIDEˆ6ANN .ATH CREATED PAINTINGS
OF REALITY (IS IMAGES OF THE HORRORS OF 4UOL 3LENG CONVEYED HIS
PERSPECTIVE ON THE TRAUMA WHICH BOTH HE AND OTHERS EXPERIENCED
AND WITNESSED 4HUS HIS EMOTIONDRIVEN WORK OPENED THE EYES OF
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND ALLOWED FOR A TYPE OF HISTORICAL AWARENESS
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN OTHERWISE DIFlCULT TO ACHIEVE
6ANN .ATHS INCREDIBLE ARTISTIC AND LIFE JOURNEY ALLOWS ONE TO
APPRECIATE THE POSSIBLE ROLE THAT AN ELEMENT OF CREATIVITY CAN PLAY
IN #AMBODIAN ARTWORK "Y NOT LIMITING HIMSELF TO THE TRADITIONAL
FORMS OF ART AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION 6ANN .ATH TAPPED INTO THE
EMOTIONS IN HIS MIND AND FEELINGS IN HIS HEART AND POSITIONED
THEM IN HIS WORK IN A MANNER EXECUTED BY FEW OF HIS COLLEAGUES
(IS EXAMPLE SUGGESTS THAT WHILE 7ESTERN STYLE CREATIVITY IN THE
MOST EXTREME SENSE MAY NOT APPROPRIATELY MIX WITH #AMBODIAN
ARTWORK THERE STILL REMAINS A FORM OF CREATIVITY USING BOTH
MODELS AND REALITY WHICH COULD ALLOW #AMBODIANS TO BEGIN
THINKING MORE DEEPLY ABOUT THEIR RECENT PAST THEIR PRESENT LIVES
AND THEIR FUTURE AMBITIONS !S DEMONSTRATED WITH THE STUDENTS AT
THE !RT 3CHOOL WHEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADAPT CREATIVITY TO
THE FORMS OF ARTWORK WITH WHICH THEY ALREADY FEEL COMFORTABLE
IDEAS BEGIN TO mOW AND EMERGE FROM THE ENFORCED REPRESSION OF A
SOCIETY NOT YET CONlDENT OF THE RESULTS OF ALLOWING OBSERVATIONS
4HE !RT OF #OEXISTENCE%THICS AND #OEXISTENCE 3TUDENT &ELLOWS
TO INTERRELATE WITH SENTIMENTS AND OUTLOOKS 9ET WHEN GIVEN THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INDIVIDUALLY ARTICULATE THESE NOTIONS EVEN WITHIN
SPECIlC PARADIGMSˆSUCH AS THOSE WHICH DICTATED 6ANN .ATH
TO REPRODUCE WHAT HE HAD SEEN IN 4UOL 3LENG OR THOSE WHICH
GOVERN THE MINDSET OF THE !RT 3CHOOL CHILDREN WHEN THINKING
ABOUT THEIR FUTURE OCCUPATIONS OR EVEN THOSE WHICH INSPIRED
2ITH TO PRODUCE A PORTRAIT OF HIS FATHERˆTHE EFFECTS ON BOTH THE
ARTIST AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY BECOME INVALUABLE 4HE
ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE ONES REAL THOUGHTS ON PAPERˆWHETHER
THROUGH ARTWORK WRITING PHOTOGRAPHY ETCˆLEADS TO A GREATER
UNDERSTANDING OF ONESELF AND ONES SURROUNDINGS 4HE STUDENTS
OF THE !RT 3CHOOL AS WELL AS A FEW LOCAL ARTISTS HAVE DEMONSTRATED
AN INTEREST IN CULTIVATING THIS UNDERSTANDING 7HILE #AMBODIA
WILL ALWAYS MAINTAIN ITS TRADITIONAL STYLE OF EXACT REPLICATION A
NEW FORM OF CREATIVITY IN #AMBODIAS OWN TERMS WILL ALLOW THE
COUNTRY TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING ITS ARTISTIC CULTURE AS WELL AS ITS
CONCRETE AND REALISTIC IMPRESSION OF THE SURROUNDING WORLD
0ART 6
7HILE THE MERITS OF CREATIVITY MAY PROVIDE A RATIONALE FOR THE
INCLUSION OF FOREIGN IDEAS INTO #AMBODIAS PRESENTDAY POLITICS
ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES A VISITOR FROM OVERSEAS MUST STILL
OBSERVE PROPER ETIQUETTE WHEN TRYING TO INTRODUCE HIS OR HER
IDEAS 0HNOM 0ENH HAS BECOME HOME TO HUNDREDS OF 7ESTERN
DIRECTED .'/S MOST WHICH FUNCTION IN THE NAME OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT FOR #AMBODIA AND ITS PEOPLE 9ET
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS ) FOUND MYSELF AUDIENCE TO AN EXPLOSION
OF CRITICISM ABOUT THE ACTUAL BENElTS OFFERED BY .'/S !LL OF
THESE OUTBURSTS AMOUNTED TO ONE AND THE SAME QUESTION 7HAT
ROLE IF ANY SHOULD 7ESTERNERS PLAY IN #AMBODIAS PRESENT AND
FUTURE EXISTENCE
4O SOME 7ESTERNERS THE ANSWER SEEMS SIMPLE 3END OVER OUR
MISSIONARIES POLITICIANS ECONOMISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS AND LET
THEM lX ALL THE PROBLEMS 9ET TO OTHERS THE WORDS hSENDv hlXv
AND hPROBLEMSv SEND CHILLS DOWN THEIR SPINES h7HAT ELSE COULD
THE CONNOTATIONS AND MEANINGS OF SUCH WORDS EXPRESS OTHER THAN
A COMPLETE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION FOR
#AMBODIAN HISTORY AND CULTUREv THEY ASK .ONETHELESS WITHOUT
SOME EDUCATION ABOUT THE DYNAMICS BETWEEN COUNTRIES SUCH AS
THE 53! AND #AMBODIA IT REMAINS EASY TO TAKE THE OBVIOUS
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEMˆPOLITICAL STABILITY ECONOMIC STRENGTH
SOCIAL WELFAREˆAS A RATIONALE WHICH ASSERTS THE 7ESTERN COUNTRYS
SUPERIORITY !LTHOUGH SUCH AN ATTITUDE ULTIMATELY ONLY HURTS
THE RECEIVING END OF SUCH A NEGOTIATION ) MYSELF RECALL FEELING
SOMEHOW EMPOWERED BY THE NOTION THAT ) AS AN !MERICAN HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO #AMBODIA AND WORK ON hCOEXISTENCE
AND RECONCILIATIONv AS PHRASED BY MY &ELLOWSHIP )N AN EARLY
JOURNAL ENTRY ) DESCRIBED THIS STATE OF MIND THROUGH A THIRD
PERSON NARRATION
(AVING PREPARED FOR MONTHS IN ADVANCE THE #OEXISTENCE
)NTERN 'OING TO #AMBODIA IS AN ENERGETIC EXCITED AND
hSELECTEDv YEAROLD (E HAS CONDUCTED RESEARCH ALL ABOUT
#AMBODIA AND IS UPTODATE ON ITS HISTORY POLITICS ECONOMIC
DIFlCULTIES AND SOCIAL REALITIES (E HAS READ ABOUT THE WORK
OF .'/S AND KNOWS ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE SUCCESSES AND
FAILURES (E REALIZES THE DEGREE TO WHICH CORRUPTION RUNS
THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT AND MISERY THROUGH MOST FAMILIES (E
HAS COLLECTED A MASS NUMBER OF BOOKS OF STORIES FROM PERSONAL
SURVIVORS OF THE 'ENOCIDE AND CAN COMFORTABLY NARRATE THE
FACTUAL HAPPENINGS BETWEEN WHEN THE +HMER
2OUGE PRESIDED OVER THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WITH ITS ATROCIOUS WHIPS
OF TERROR
4HE #OEXISTENCE )NTERN 'OING TO #AMBODIA BELIEVES
THAT HE CAN LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION ON MANY OF THOSE WHOM
HE WILL MEET EQUAL TO THE IMPRESSION THEY WILL LEAVE ON HIM
(E ENVISIONS THAT HE WILL JUMP OVER THE LANGUAGE BARRIER
IN LEAPS AND STRIDES AND THAT THROUGH POWERFUL EYE CONTACT
AND A GENUINE INTEREST IN THOSE WITH WHOM HES SPEAKING ALL
COMMUNICATION WILL mOW AND BE UNDERSTOOD !LTHOUGH HE HAS
BEEN TOLD MANY TIMES NOT TO EXPECT TO CHANGE #AMBODIA DEEP
INSIDE HE HOPES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE (E EXPECTS TO RETURN TO
HIS 5NIVERSITY FULL OF COMPLETED PROJECTS AND STORIES OF PEOPLE
HE HAS GOTTEN TO KNOW PEOPLE WITH WHOM HE SHALL MUTUALLY
SHARE MANY MEMORIES AND CONTINUING CONTACT -OST OF ALL HE
ENVISIONS HELPING MANY PEOPLE TALKˆMAYBE EVEN FOR THE lRST
TIMEˆABOUT THE TRAGEDIES OF THEIR PERSONAL HISTORIES AND HE
HOPES TO ASSIST THEM IN BEGINNING TO RECONCILE WITH THE PAST SO
AS TO MOVE INTO THE FUTURE
) COULD NOT HAVE ENTERED #AMBODIA WITH A MORE
NAÉVE PERSPECTIVE ON HOW THE COUNTRY OPERATES 4HE TITLE OF
h#OEXISTENCE )NTERNv ALREADY ESTABLISHED AN UNEQUAL PLAYING
lELD BETWEEN ME AND THOSE WHOM ) WAS BEING hSENTv TO hHELPv
)N REALITY NO ONE IN #AMBODIA ACTUALLY REQUESTED OR NEEDED MY
HELP AND MY POSITION AS INTERN ON A FELLOWSHIP FROM A PRESTIGIOUS
UNIVERSITY WITH A COEXISTENCE PROGRAM ONLY ACTED TO INCREASE THE
DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND #AMBODIA 9ET MANY WESTERNBASED
.'/S EXIST IN A SIMILAR PERPETUAL STATE OF BLINDNESS WHERE THEY
REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE INTRUSIVENESS OF THEIR ENTRY INTO A FOREIGN
CULTURE %VEN WORSE SOME .'/S SIMPLY REFUSE TO CONSIDER THE
DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGE INPUTˆTHEIR EXPENSESˆCOMPARED TO THE
OFTENTIMES SMALL OUTPUTˆTHE BENElT TO THE COMMUNITYˆWHICH
THEY EXCHANGE IN TRADE
! SMALLER MINORITY OF 7ESTERNERS HAVE RECOGNIZED
THIS IMBALANCE AND CONSEQUENTLY REFUSE TO ALLOW THEIR OWN
ORGANIZATIONS TO BREED THIS MENTALITY AND BEHAVIOR 2EYUM FALLS
INTO THIS LATTER CATEGORY &ROM MY lRST DAY ENTERING THE !RT
'ALLERY )NGRID MADE HER LOW REGARD FOR 7ESTERN AID AND STUDENT
INTERNS QUITE VISIBLE TO ME !LTHOUGH STILL IN TRANSITION FROM MY
lRST IDENTITY AS 0ROUD !MERICAN 3AVIOR TO A SECOND IDENTITY AS
,OST !MERICAN IN !WE 2EYUMS ATTITUDE HIT ME HARD )N THE SAME
JOURNAL ENTRY AS BEFORE ) DESCRIBED THE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING MY
IDEALISTIC PRECONCEPTIONS OF #AMBODIA mATTENED INTO ONES WHICH
BEGAN TO MAKE ME AWARE OF THE REALITY OF THIS COUNTRY
7HEN THE #OEXISTENCE )NTERN 'OING TO #AMBODIA
lNALLY ARRIVES IN #AMBODIA HE IS EAGER TO BEGIN ALL OF HIS
IMPORTANT WORK 4O HIS DISMAY OPEN ARMS WORK ITINERARIES
AND THE MANY PEOPLE WITH WHOM HE WILL ENGAGE IN hDEEPv
CONVERSATIONS DO NOT GREET HIM 1UITE ON THE CONTRARY IN
FACT THE LOCALS ARE TOO BUSY WORKING TO SURVIVE TO NOTICE HIM
AND THE SURVIVORS NAMELY EVERYONE HAVE LITTLE INTENTION OF
DISCLOSING FACTS AND STORIES ABOUT THEIR PAST TO SOMEONE THEY DO
NOT KNOW AND WHO DOES NOT SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE 4HE WOMEN
ARE TOO SHY AND OPPRESSED TO SPEAK WITH HIM AND THE YOUTH LIVE
IN FEAR OF DISCUSSING PUBLICLY ANY OF THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE
GOVERNMENT 7ITH THOSE WITH WHOM IT IS POSSIBLE TO CONVERSE
THE DIALOGUE OFTEN EXIST IN PARADIGMS AND LIMITATIONS WHICH
REMAIN NEARLY INVISIBLE TO THE )NTERN WHO HAS NO GROUNDING
OR FOUNDATIONS IN A CULTURE ENTIRELY NOT HIS OWN (OWEVER HE
BRUSHES THESE OBSTACLES OFF AS PRODUCTS OF ONLY HAVING BEEN IN
#AMBODIA FOR ONE DAY
9ET HE IS SOON FORCED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WITH ONLY
TWO MONTHS IN #AMBODIA HIS OFFERINGS AS AN !MERICAN ARE
FEW AND FAR BETWEEN 4HE #OEXISTENCE )NTERN IS NOT NECESSARY
IN #AMBODIA 4HE COUNTRY AND HER PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE
MARKING THEIR PATH OF SURVIVAL WITH OR WITHOUT HIM 4HE MOST
HE CAN HOPE TO OFFER IS A LITTLE BIT OF CULTURAL INSIGHT INTO WHAT
LIFE IS LIKE IN !MERICA AND OUR CREATIVE APPROACH TO ACTIVITY VS
THE DOWHATITTAKESTOMAKEMONEY APPROACH OF THIS COUNTRY
%VEN HERE THOUGH THE #OEXISTENCE )NTERN MUST UNDERSTAND
THAT LIFE IN #AMBODIA FUNCTIONS ON VERY DIFFERENT TERMS AND
THAT WHILE IN THE 53 IT MAY SEEM UNUSUAL FOR A CHILD TO SKIP
OVER TEENAGEHOOD AND GO STRAIGHT INTO THE WORKFORCE AT THE
AGE OF IN #AMBODIA IT HAS BECOME QUITE THE NORM 4HE
#OEXISTENCE )NTERN FEELS GUILTY BECAUSE HE IS DOING VERY LITTLE
#OEXISTENCE WORK AS LEARNED IN HIS THEORY CLASS PRIOR TO THE
INTERNSHIP
4HE GUILT ) FELT ORIGINATED FROM MY OWN EXPECTATIONS
AND ONLY PROLONGED HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE FOR ME TO lND
A COMFORTABLE POSITION IN WHICH ) COULD SPEND THE NEXT TWO
MONTHS IN #AMBODIA !FTER SOME TIME HOWEVER ) BEGAN TO
REALIZE THAT IF ) INTENDED TO IMMERSE MYSELF IN THE +HMER CULTURE
) WOULD NEED TO DROP ALL OF MY PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS AND ACCEPT
MY ROLE AS OUTSIDER WHO WOULD LEARN MOST THROUGH OBSERVATION
/NLY AFTER REALIZING THIS POINT DID MY EXPERIENCE AS AN INTERN
BEGIN TO MANIFEST ITSELF INTO AN EXPERIENCE OF MY OWN !GAIN
) CONTINUED WRITING IN MY JOURNAL ENTRIES ABOUT THIS PROCESS OF
ASSIMILATION AND TRANSITION
/VER TIME THE LONGER THE #OEXISTENCE )NTERN STAYS IN
#AMBODIA THE MORE HE BEGINS TO DISCOVER AND APPRECIATE
THAT HIS INmUENCE HERE CAN BE REAL BUT THAT IT MUST OPERATE
ON VERY DIFFERENT PRINCIPLES FROM PAST WORK EXPERIENCES
%VERYTHING MUST BE SELFINITIATED AND THE RESULTS MUST NOT BE
APPROACHED IN A SUCCESSFAILURE OR PROGRESSDETERIORATE TYPE OF
CONTEXT 2ATHER RESULTS MUST BE VIEWED IN TERMS OF THE QUALITY
OF INTERACTIONS %VERY CONVERSATION PRODUCES THOUGHTS IDEAS
AND SOME DEGREE OF CONNECTION 4HESE EXCHANGES EVEN WHEN
THEY DO NOT PRODUCE A SINGLE TANGIBLE OR MATERIAL RESULT WITH
WHICH HE CAN WRITE BACK TO HIS 5NIVERSITY REMAIN IMPORTANT
)NTERNATIONAL #ENTER FOR %THICS *USTICE AND 0UBLIC ,IFE FOR A GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH
PEOPLE IN GENERAL 4HE )NTERN MUST ACCEPT HIS ROLE AS A PASSIVE
OBSERVER AND THAT ONLY WHEN LUCKY MAY HE OCCASIONALLY
BECOME AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT 4HE #OEXISTENCE )NTERN 'OING
TO #AMBODIA MUST LEARN TO DROP ALL SETS OF EXPECTATIONS
AND SIMPLY FUNCTION AS A SPONGE THAT CONTINUOUSLY ABSORBS
EVERYTHING AROUND HIM ONLY OCCASIONALLY MAY HE BE IN THE
POSITION TO LEAKSQUEEZEOFFER A FEW DROPLETS OF ANYTHING IN
RETURN
4HUS AS WITH CREATIVITY OUTSIDERS INTERESTED IN WORKING
IN THE COUNTRY SHOULD ALSO BEGIN WITH A MENTALITY OF MEETING
#AMBODIA ON HER OWN TERMS AND NOT ON THOSE PRESENTED BY A
7ESTERN STANDARD OF IDEALS !S SOON AS ONE INSISTS ON USING HIS
OR HER OWN CULTURAL NORMS AND EDUCATION AS A BASIS UPON WHICH
TO DECIDE WHETHER ANOTHER COUNTRY NEEDS hHELPv hlXINGv OR
EVEN hDEVELOPMENTv ONE RUNS THE RISK OF ENTIRELY MISSING THE
DYNAMICS AND FACTORS WHICH MAKE EACH CULTURE UNIQUELY ITS OWN
! QUOTE BY $AVID 7HYTE FROM HIS AUDIOTAPE -AKING A
&RIEND OF THE 5NKNOWN BEAUTIFULLY SUMMARIZES THIS CONCEPT
4HOUGH )VE WRITTEN POETRY SINCE ) WAS SMALL ) ACTUALLY
STUDIED MARINE ZOOLOGY AND WORKED AS A NATURALIST IN THE
'ALAPAGOS )SLANDS )TS AN OLD JOKE BUT WHEN ) GOT TO THOSE
ISLANDS ) FOUND THAT NONE OF THE ANIMALS HAD READ ANY OF THE
ZOOLOGY BOOKS THAT ) HAD READ 4HEY ALL HAD LIVES OF THEIR OWN
) COULDNT HAVE GOTTEN TO THE 'ALAPAGOS )SLANDS WITHOUT MY
TRAINING BUT MY TRAINING WAS ALSO THE GREATEST THING WHICH
LAY BETWEEN ME AND THAT WORLD -Y TRAINING WAS LIKE A GRID
WHICH ) WOULD PLACE OVER THE WORLD WHICH ) WAS TRYING TO
PERCEIVE 3OMETIMES THE LINES OF THAT GRID WERE SO THICK THAT
YOU COULD BARELY SEE ANYTHING AT ALL BETWEEN THEM 4HERE WAS
A KIND OF INNOCENCE WHICH ) WAS FORCED TO CULTIVATE ) HAD TO
BECOME INNOCENT AGAIN AFTER MY TRAINING IN ORDER TO SEE THAT
WORLD ON ITS OWN TERMS 4HAT INNOCENCE CAME OUT OF THE SILENCE
OF BEING THERE HOUR AFTER HOUR AFTER HOUR AFTER DAY AFTER DAY
AFTER MONTH AFTER MONTH WATCHING THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS
AND LANDSCAPES AND CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS AND THE SEA AND
BECOMING A PART OF THAT LIFE ) THINK ITS WHY ) WENT BACK INTO
POETRY AFTER ) LEFT 'ALAPAGOS BECAUSE ) FELT THAT POETRY WAS A
MORE PRECISE WAY OF DESCRIBING THE WORLD THAN SCIENCE
5NTIL ) COULD REMOVE FROM MY EYES THE GRID OF EXPECTATIONS
AND KNOWLEDGE WHICH ) BROUGHT WITH ME TO #AMBODIA )
WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS ON ANY BUT THE
MOST SUPERlCIAL OF LEVELS (OWEVER THE PROCESS OF REALIZING THIS
IDEA PROVED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL TURNING POINTS OF MY
EXPERIENCE IN THE COUNTRY &OR THIS REASON IT REMAINS VITAL FOR
INTERNS AND .'/S ALIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE UNDERGO AND ACCEPT
THEIR OWN INTERNAL CHANGES BEFORE WORKING ON ANY SUBSTANTIAL
EXTERNAL CHANGES 7ITHOUT THIS PROCESS ANY POSITIVE OUTCOMES
WHICH COULD ARISE FROM INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION WILL REMAIN
LOST IN THE FOG OF CULTURAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS ASSUMPTIONS AND
DISRESPECT
4HE !RT OF #OEXISTENCE%THICS AND #OEXISTENCE 3TUDENT &ELLOWS
0ART 6)
h)S IT MY JOB TO PUSH #AMBODIANS INTO A DIRECTION WHERE THEY
MAY NOT EVEN WANT TO GO 7HY ARENT #AMBODIANS DOING THIS
7HY ARENT THE GOVERNMENT OFlCIALS WHO HAVE LOADS OF MONEY
TAKING AN INTEREST IN THIS 7HY IS IT MY RESPONSIBILITY )S IT EVEN
HELPING ANYTHING AT ALLv
) VIVIDLY RECALL THE TIME WHEN WHILE STANDING IN THE SMALL
KITCHEN OF )NGRIDS APARTMENT SHE EXCLAIMED THESE WORDS !T lRST
) FOUND MYSELF SHOCKED AND DISMAYED AT HER QUESTIONS (OW
COULD )NGRID QUESTION THE BENElT OF HER WORK (OW COULD SHE
NOT SEE THAT MOST #AMBODIANS WERENT IN THE POSITION TO DO WHAT
SHE HAD DONE 4HE ISSUE SEEMED OBVIOUS TO ME #AMBODIANS
CONCERNED WITH PUTTING FOOD ON THEIR PLATES DID NOT HAVE THE
LUXURY OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT PEDAGOGICAL ISSUES
9ET )NGRIDS TREPIDATION ABOUT HER ROLE IN #AMBODIA ECHOES
THAT OF OTHER .'/ DIRECTORS WHO ALSO QUESTION THEIR POSITION AS
7ESTERNERS WORKING IN THIRDWORLD COUNTRIES SUCH AS #AMBODIA
(ER WORRIES ARE TWOFOLD 0ERSONALLY )NGRID HAS BEEN DRAINED
BY THE REALITY THAT THE VERY PEOPLE WITH WHOM SHE HAS TRIED TO
WORK OFTEN HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST HER TO STOP HER FROM SUCCEEDING
7HETHER THROUGH OVERT FORMS OF EXPRESSIONˆSUCH AS THE 2EYUM
!RT 3CHOOL $IRECTOR STATING THAT HE FOUND IT OFFENSIVE AND
DISRUPTING THAT )NGRID WOULD ASK THE STUDENTS TO QUESTION THE ROLE
OF TRADITIONAL +HMER MYTHS IN MODERN DAY TIMESˆOR THROUGH
MORE PASSIVE TYPES OF RESISTANCEˆTHE !RT 3CHOOL $IRECTOR
BEGRUDGINGLY COMPLYING WITH )NGRIDS REQUESTS AS IF DOING HER A
FAVORˆTHE END RESULT REMAINS THE SAME ! LACK OF APPRECIATION
AND A CONSTANT SENSE OF DElANCE RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
BENElTS AND HARMS OF ONES OWN MOTIVES EFFORTS AND WORK
)NGRIDS HIGH SELFCONSCIOUSNESS AND MONITORING OF HER POSITION
AS A 7ESTERNER IN #AMBODIAN SOCIETY REMAINS VISIBLE THROUGHOUT
NEARLY ALL OF HER DECISIONS AND ACTIONS
)NGRIDS SECOND APPREHENSION CONCERNS WHETHER #AMBODIANS
WOULD INITIATE AND WANT TO PROMOTE AN EXPLORATION OF THE RECENT
PAST AND CULTURE IF SHE WERE NOT THERE FEEDING THEM HER IDEAS AND
PAYING THEM WITH HER MONEY h$O YOU THINK THE WORKERS HERE
WOULD GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ANY OF THIS IF THEY WERENT GETTING PAIDv
SHE WOULD OFTEN RHETORICALLY ASK ME 5LTIMATELY )NGRIDS CONCERNS
QUESTIONED THE ROLE WHICH ART COULD HAVE IN A TRAUMATIZED SOCIETY
7HILE BOTH ISSUES CONCERN HER RIGHT TO ACT AS A PROVOKER
OF CHANGE IN A SOCIETY WHERE SHE ENCOUNTERED RESISTANCE FROM
THE VERY PEOPLE WITH WHOM SHE TRIED TO WORK THE FORMER
POINT FOCUSES ON HER OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH SERVICE IN
#AMBODIA WHILE THE LATTER ISSUE FOCUSES MORE ON THE GENERAL
QUESTION OF WHETHER #AMBODIA WANTS ANDOR NEEDS CHANGE FROM
ITS CURRENT STATE
)N CONJUNCTION WITH ONE ANOTHER THE RESPONSES TO THESE TWO
ISSUES FORM THE RATIONALE WHICH JUSTIlES THE PURPOSE OF SUCH AN
ORGANIZATION AS 2EYUM IN #AMBODIA
)N TERMS OF HER lRST CONCERN ) FELT A COMPELLING NEED
TO UNDERSTAND HOW )NGRID WENT FROM A GRADUATE STUDENT
PASSIONATE ENOUGH TO STARTUP SUCH AN ORGANIZATION AS 2EYUM
TO THE CYNICAL SKEPTICAL AND SOMEWHAT DEPRESSED WOMAN SHE
IS TODAY (ER HIGH LEVEL OF SELFMONITORING BEGAN LONG BEFORE
) ARRIVED IN 0HNOM 0ENH AND WAS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE MANY
DISAPPOINTMENTS AND FRUSTRATIONS SHE HAD ENCOUNTERED DURING THE
PAST SEVERAL YEARS
7HEN )NGRID lRST CAME TO #AMBODIA OVER NINE YEARS AGO
SHE FELT A SIMILAR BUZZ AS THAT WHICH CHARACTERIZED MY ENTIRE
STAY THERE THIS SUMMER /NES lRST TIME IN #AMBODIA IS FULL
OF FASCINATION INVIGORATION AND AWE 4HE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
SERVE AS ADVENTURE FOR EACH WAKING DAY AND ACT TO MAKE EACH
ENCOUNTERED CHALLENGE A STIMULUS FOR THAT MUCH MORE ENTHUSIASM
AND EFFORT #ASUAL STREETSIDE CONVERSATIONS FEEL LIKE MONUMENTAL
BREAKTHROUGHS AND THE SMALLEST ACHIEVEMENT OF ANY SORTˆ
WHETHER INTERPRETING DIRECTIONS OR LEARNING TO RIDE A MOTORBIKE
OR HAVING A CONVERSATION IN BASIC +HMERˆREGISTERS AS A MILESTONE
IN ONES PERSONAL JOURNEY THROUGH #AMBODIA (ENCE THE BEAUTY
OF THE NAÉVE UNACQUAINTED TRAVELER
!FTER SOME ADAPTING AND FAMILIARIZATION WITH THE CULTURE
HOWEVER THE SENSE OF INNOCENT PURITY CAN BE LOST TO STRONGER
FEELINGS OF SPECIlC PRAISE AND CRITIQUE ) RECALL WHEN ) lRST ARRIVED
TO #AMBODIA MY FASCINATION WITH THE DISPOSITION OF MOTORBIKE
DRIVERS TOWARDS ANYONE WALKING BY THEM /FTEN LAZILY SLOUCHING
ACROSS THEIR BIKES IN GROUPS OF lVE OR SIX OTHERS THE MOTORBIKE
DRIVERS WOULD BOUNCE UP WITH INTEREST AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SHOUT
OUT h-OTORBIKEv PLAYFULLY lGHTING TO SEE WHO WILL BE THE
lRST TO REACH THIS POTENTIAL PASSENGER !T NEARLY EVERY CORNER
MOTORBIKE DRIVERS SAT CRACKING JOKES AT EACH OTHER AND WAITING FOR
THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DOLLAR OR TWO 9ET THIS LAYER OF
LIGHTHEARTEDNESS COVERS THE REALITY BURDENING THE MINDS OF MANY
OF THESE MOTORBIKE DRIVERS LACK OF SHELTER A FAILED CROP SEASON A
STARVING FAMILY BACK HOMEx
.EVERTHELESS MY INTERACTIONS WITH THEM WERE ALWAYS FULL
OF SMILES QUESTIONS AND AWKWARD ATTEMPTS AT DIRECTING THEM
IN +HMER ) ONCE MENTIONED TO )NGRID HOW FUNNY ) THOUGHT IT
WAS THAT AS SOON AS ANYONE WALKED OUT FROM ANY BUILDING INTO
THE STREET ONE COULD HEAR THE DISTANT SQUEALS OF THE MOTORBIKE
DRIVERS REVVING THEIR ENGINES AND DRIVING UP TO MAKE THEIR
FRIENDLY GREETINGS h-/4/2")+%v !FTER THIS COMMENT )NGRID
SHOT ME A GLANCE AND MUMBLED h9OU JUST GIVE IT A FEW WEEKS AND
THEN SEE HOW MUCH YOU STILL LIKE THEMv /NLY AFTER EVENTUALLY
UNDERSTANDING THE LEVEL OF DESPERATION AFFECTING THESE DRIVERS
AND THE DAY IN DAY OUT PERSONAL OFFENSE WHICH THEY TOOK WHEN
SOMEONE DECIDED TO WALK INSTEAD OF PAYING THEM FOR A RIDE DID )
BEGIN TO COMPREHEND )NGRIDS SHARP ANSWER TO MY COMMENT
/NCE WHILE TAKING A WALK WITH )NGRID ) ASKED HER h)NGRID
WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SO CRITICAL OF EVERYTHINGv 7ITHOUT LOOKING
UP SHE BROKE ONE OF HER EXHAUSTED SMILES AND REPLIED h"ECAUSE
$AN WHEN YOUVE SEEN ALL THE FUCKED UP THINGS )VE SEEN IN THIS
COUNTRY TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITHOUT ANY IMPROVEMENT ITS
IMPOSSIBLE TO BE ANYTHING BUT CRITICALv
)NGRIDS ONCE YOUTHFUL OUTLOOK HAD BEEN CORRUPTED BY
YEARS OF DISAPPOINTMENTS LOST OPPORTUNITIES AND FRUSTRATING
BUREAUCRACY !LTHOUGH SHE HAD ARRIVED IN #AMBODIA WITH
THE FRESH PERSPECTIVE OF A GRADUATE STUDENT WORKING ON HER
DISSERTATION THE YEARS SHE HAD SPENT BECOMING WELL VERSED IN THE
LANGUAGE THE CULTURE AND THE POLITICS OF TODAYS SOCIETY ULTIMATELY
SERVED TO CORRUPT HER OPTIMISM AND DEPLETE HER OF STRENGTH
) OFTEN FOUND MYSELF WONDERING ABOUT THE MISSION WHICH
)NGRID HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO SERVE &OR WHAT PURPOSE OR
AIM WAS HER INITIAL STRENGTH DIRECTED 4O HELP #AMBODIANS
BEGIN A DIALOGUE WITH THE PAST 4O USE ART AS A MEDIUM FOR
COMMUNICATION IN WAYS WHICH IT IS NOT YET USED 0ERHAPS TO
CREATE AN OPEN SPACE WHERE #AMBODIAS CULTURE CAN BE PRESENTED
DISCUSSED OR STUDIED 4O ME THESE SEEMED LIKE NOBLE GOALS WHICH
SHE HAD BEEN SUCCESSFULLY TACKLING 3O WHAT COULD EXPLAIN HER
CONSTANT FRUSTRATION
)N FACT WHILE ALL OF THESE MISSIONS HAVE EMBODIED )NGRIDS
WORK FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS THAT SHE
RECEIVES MINIMAL FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE BENElT
OF HER ACTIVITIES )NGRIDS COMMENT QUESTIONING THE RESPONSIBILITY
AND MERIT OF HER WORK PUTS INTO PERSPECTIVE THE REAL PROBLEM
CONFRONTING .'/ WORK IN #AMBODIA
"OTH #AMBODIANS AND FOREIGNERS SHOW VERY LITTLE SUPPORT
FOR SERVICE WORK DONE IN #AMBODIA
4HE #AMBODIAN POPULACE PUTS THEIR TIME INTO ENSURING
THAT THEIR FAMILIES ARE FEDˆTHAT THEIR BASIC NEEDS ARE MET THE
!MERICAN WORLD WHERE )NGRID WAS BORN TAKES FOR GRANTED THE
FULlLLMENT OF ITS BASIC NEEDS EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT FULlLLED
FOR EVERYONE )N #AMBODIA MOST PEOPLE ARE TOO BUSY SURVIVING
TO NOTICE HER WORK IN THE 53 MOST PEOPLE ARE TOO CONCERNED
WITH THE SUPERIORITY OF THEIR OWN NATION TO NOTICE ANY SERVICE
WORK DONE IN A THIRDWORLD COUNTRY $UE TO THESE CIRCUMSTANCES
)NGRID LACKS THE COMPONENT OF ENERGY AND ENCOURAGEMENT WHICH
PROMPTED HER INTEREST AND ACTIVE PURSUIT OF COMING TO #AMBODIA
IN THE lRST PLACE
4HE FOREIGN SERVICE WORKER IN RESIDENCE IN #AMBODIA ENTERS
PERPETUAL CYCLES OF DOUBT WHEN THEY DO NOT HAVE OTHERS OFF OF
WHOM THEY CAN OBJECTIVELY SOUNDBOARD THEIR IDEAS AND RECEIVE
SOLID FEEDBACK 4HUS )NGRIDS FEELINGS WERE A MANIFESTATION OF
THE INEVITABLE FATE OF lGHTING A BATTLE WHEN ONE ISNT EVEN ENTIRELY
CONVINCED OF ONES OWN CONVICTIONS
)NDEED HOWEVER THIS IS THE REALITY OF WORKING IN MOST PARTS
OF #AMBODIA
h5NDER THE PRESSURES PRODUCED BY lNANCIAL INSTABILITY
FEAR OF GOVERNMENT CONSTANT VIOLENCE AND THE NEED TO PICK
UP A DOLLAR AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY #AMBODIANS DO NOT HAVE THE
TIME OR ENERGY TO ENGAGE IN PEACEBUILDING OR RECONCILIATORY
WORK #AMBODIANS WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO THINK OF THE FUTURE
AS A BRIGHTER POSSIBILITY BUT ONE CANNOT BE SO BLIND OR NAIVELY
HOPEFUL 4HE CORRUPTION RUNNING THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT IS SO
GREAT THAT SOME #AMBODIANS EVEN FEAR A REPEAT OF THE 0OL 0OT
REGIME ONLY WITHIN MODERNDAY PARAMETERS %VEN THE YOUTH
ARE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT THEIR THOUGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE
MANY WHO SPEAK OUT AGAINST IT ARE FOUND hCOINCIDENTALLYv DEAD
SOON AFTER -OST #AMBODIANS CANNOT AFFORD TO THINK ABOUT THE
FUTURE BECAUSE THERE IS BARELY ENOUGH TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE
hNOWv $ELIVERING FOOD TO THE FAMILY REPRESENTS BY FAR THE GREATEST
OCCUPATION ON MOST PEOPLES MINDS AND FEW #AMBODIANS ARE IN
THE POSITION TO BE ABLE TO MAKE LONGERTERM PLANS THAT INVOLVE
)NTERNATIONAL #ENTER FOR %THICS *USTICE AND 0UBLIC ,IFE EDUCATION OR STABILITY )N A COUNTRY WHERE ONE CANNOT TRUST
ANYTHING AND WHERE CORRUPTION AND POWER REMAIN THE GOVERNING
FORCES BEHIND DECISIONS IT REMAINS DIFlCULT TO KNOW ANYTHING BUT
WHAT ONE SEES ON A TANGIBLE DAYTODAY BASISˆAND EVEN THIS CAN
OFTEN BE ENTIRELY DISILLUSIONING #AMBODIA ONE DAY MAY BE IN A
POSITION TO THINK OF THE FUTUREˆAND WILL GLADLY EMBRACE THIS DAY
WHEN IT ARRIVESˆBUT FOR NOW WITH THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES
THIS IS SIMPLY AN IMPOSSIBILITYv
)N AN EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE OVER THE SUMMER ) ATTEMPTED
TO CLARIFY THE SITUATION IN #AMBODIA TO AN !MERICAN FRIEND
OF MINE WHO COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY #AMBODIA COULD NOT
JUST PICK ITSELF UP AND BEGIN TO DEAL WITH THE PAST (E REFUSED
TO REALIZE HOWEVER THAT BY VICTIMIZING THE VICTIM #AMBODIAS
NEEDS WILL NEVER BE ADDRESSED )N ORDER TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT
WILL BENElT #AMBODIA ONE MUST LOOK AT THE DOMINATING AND
UNDERLYING ISSUES WHICH PLAGUE HER PEOPLE
4HE LARGEST OVERLOOKED PROBLEM CONFRONTING #AMBODIA
TODAY REVOLVES AROUND THE ISSUE OF TRUST 7HETHER THROUGH THE
STORIES OF &OUSING 3EM OR )NGRIDS EXPERIENCES WITH PARENTS AT THE
!RT 3CHOOL OR IN MY DAILY CONVERSATIONS WITH STUDENTS SUCH AS
3UPON IT BECAME CLEAR THAT LACK OF TRUST WEAVES ITS WAY THROUGH
EVERY INTERACTION )NGRIDS lRST PIECE OF ADVICE TO ME WHEN )
TOLD HER THAT )D LIKE TO WORK AT THE ART SCHOOL DEALT WITH THIS
EXACT ISSUE h*UST REMEMBER $AN IF YOU SAY YOURE GOING TO DO
SOMETHING WITH THEM YOU BETTER DO IT )F YOU KNOW YOURE NOT
GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOURE PROMISING THEN
ITS BETTER JUST TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT 4HIS CULTURE HAS SEEN
ENOUGH BROKEN PROMISESv
)N A SOCIETY WITHOUT TRUST RELATIONSHIPSˆBETWEEN PEOPLE
BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTˆREMAIN
UNRELIABLE 9ET 2EYUM HAS BECOME A SPACE UPON WHICH SOME
#AMBODIANS HAVE BEGUN TO RELY #ONTRARY TO )NGRIDS BELIEFS THE
2EYUM COMMUNITYˆINCLUDING THE WORKERS THE KIDS AND THE
#AMBODIANS WHO HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE ITS WORKˆHAS FELT A
TASTE OF REAL TRUST !LTHOUGH lLLED WITH CRACKS AND GAPS LEFT TO BE
lLLED THE CHILDREN AT THE SCHOOL HAVE GROWN TO RELY AND TRUST THAT
THE !RT 3CHOOL WILL NOT DISAPPEAR ONE DAY 4HE 2EYUM WORKERS
HAVE LEARNED TO TRUST THAT THEIR JOBS WILL NOT BE SNATCHED FROM
UNDERNEATH THEM ONE MORNING )N EFFECT THE 2EYUM COMMUNITY
HAS COME TO SEE 2EYUM AS A RELIABLE SPACE
)N THIS WAY 2EYUM DOES SERVE A VALUABLE FUNCTION IN
#AMBODIAN SOCIETY BY ACTING AS THE lRST STEPPINGSTONES FOR
A SOCIETY IN DESPERATE NEED OF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING TO TRUST
#AMBODIANS HAVE YET TO BEGIN SPEAKING ABOUT THEIR THOUGHTS
MEMORIES AND FEARS OF THE +HMER 2OUGE ! VICTIMS PATH TO
RECOVERY LIES IN FEELING SAFE ENOUGH TO BEGIN DISCUSSING IN EITHER
INTERNAL ANDOR EXTERNAL DIALOGUE THE PAST 9ET WHEN EVERYONE IN
#AMBODIA HAS BEEN AFmICTED WITH THE SAME ILLNESSˆTHE DEATH OF
OVER TWO MILLION OF ONES OWN PEOPLEˆWHICH #AMBODIAN WILL BE
THE STRONG ONE TO STEP UP AND BEGIN THE RECONCILIATORY PROCESS
)N A MANNER OF SPEAKING 2EYUM HAS BEEN THE ONE TO
STEP UP )T HAS THE TIME IN ITS DAY TO DEVOTE TO THINKING ABOUT
THIS PROCESS THE MAJORITY OF #AMBODIANS CANNOT AFFORD THIS
TIME 2EYUM EMBODIES A POSITION THAT ACTUALLY GRANTS IT ACCESS
4HE !RT OF #OEXISTENCE%THICS AND #OEXISTENCE 3TUDENT &ELLOWS
TO A REALM NEARLY UNKNOWN BY MOST #AMBODIANS FREEDOM
OF THOUGHT !S A FOREIGNER )NGRIDS POSITION AS DIRECTOR OF
2EYUM ALLOWS HER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES CONFRONTING SO MANY
#AMBODIANS WITHOUT THE FEAR THAT PREVENTS #AMBODIANS FROM
ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES THEMSELVES
2EYUM CAN PUT UP AN EXHIBIT ABOUT #AMBODIAN IDENTITY IT
CAN DISPLAY ART ABOUT THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF THE SOUL SINCE THE
+HMER 2OUGE IT CAN PRESENT THE WORKS OF 6ANN .ATH AND 4UOL
3LENG IT CAN ASK #AMBODIAN CHILDREN TO DRAW THEIR THOUGHTS
ABOUT THE FUTURE OR TO IMAGINE A PAST WHICH THEIR PARENTS REFUSE
TO DISCUSS 2EYUM EMBODIES A POSITION WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO FEW
#AMBODIANSˆA NEUTRAL MODERATOR OF REmECTION
)N A TRAUMATIZED SOCIETY RECOVERING FROM CIVIL VIOLENCE
AND WARFARE THE POWER OF REmECTIONBASED ARTWORK REMAINS
UNBEATABLE !RT ACTS AS THE MEDIUM AND MODERATOR FOR THINKING
SPEAKING AND LISTENING -OST IMPORTANTLY ARTWORK IN ANY WAY
WHICH #AMBODIANS DEEM APPROPRIATE CAN BEGIN TO TRUTHFULLY
ADDRESS THE PAST 2EALIZING THIS 2EYUM HAS USED THE NOTIONS
OF CREATIVITY AND CHANGE TO ENCOURAGE ARTISTS TO UTILIZE THEIR
TALENTS NOT ONLY FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES BUT FOR THERAPEUTIC
AND MEDITATIVE ONES AS WELL 3PECIlCALLY 2EYUM HAS UTILIZED
THE FORMULA FOR CREATIVITY WHICH ENSURES ITS UTILITARIAN SUCCESS
CREATIVITY ON #AMBODIAS OWN TERMS
4HROUGH THE USE OF REmECTIONBASED CREATIVITY GROUNDED IN
THE NEEDS AND WANTS OF THE #AMBODIAN PEOPLE 2EYUM CAN ALLOW
#AMBODIANS TO USE A NEW CONCEPT IN A WAY WHICH SERVES THEM
BEST )F #AMBODIANS CAN TRUST ART AS A MEDIUM FOR EXCHANGING NEW
IDEAS THEY CAN BEGIN CONVERSING ABOUT THE PASTˆSHARING STORIES
MEMORIES AND EVENTS
$ESPITE THIS MANY FOREIGN WORKERS WORRY THAT EVEN WITH
GOOD INTENTIONS THE FOREIGNER IN #AMBODIA WILL ULTIMATELY
PLANT IDEAS INTO THE SOCIETY WHICH #AMBODIANS MIGHT OTHERWISE
NOT HAVE COME UP WITH ON THEIR OWN /UT OF FRUSTRATION )NGRID
ONCE ASKED ME h7HAT IF THE CULTURE ONLY WANTS SIMILARITY
#OMMISSIONS REPEAT THEMSELVES AND EVERYONE WANTS WHAT
SOMEONE ELSE HAS )N SUCH A CONTEXT THE NEW IS THE STRANGE THE
BAD THE UNUSUAL THE NOT WANTEDv
9ET MY TIME IN #AMBODIA THIS SUMMER HAS LED ME TO
BELIEVE THAT #AMBODIA IS NOT OPPOSED TO THE NEW 2ATHER MOST
#AMBODIANS HAVE SIMPLY NOT BEEN IN A POSITION TO TRUST THE
NEW 7HEN THE +HMER 2OUGE TOOK OVER #AMBODIANS BEGAN BY
REJOICING AND CELEBRATING ONLY TO REALIZE ALL TOO SOON THAT THIS
NEW LEADERSHIP HAD A TERRIBLE FATE IN STORE FOR THEM 7HEN THE
6IETNAMESE TOOK OVER IN MANY #AMBODIANS AGAIN THOUGHT
THEY WERE BEING SAVED ONLY TO lND OUT THAT THEY WERE NOW TO
BE CONTROLLED AND ABUSED ONCE AGAIN BY ANOTHER POWER 4HIS
CYCLE HAS CONTINUED UNTIL PRESENT DAY WITH UNMET PROMISES OF
FOREIGN AID FAIR ELECTIONS AND STABILITY )N LEARNING TO MISTRUST ANY
PROMISES FOR CHANGE #AMBODIANS HESITATIONS TOWARDS DELVING
BACK INTO THE PAST FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECONCILIATIONˆA NOVEL
CONCEPT IN #AMBODIAS HISTORYˆREMAIN COMPLETELY LOGICAL
9ET ONLY WHEN THE CYCLE OF MISTRUST IS BROKEN WILL
#AMBODIANS lNALLY BEGIN RISING FROM THE BLOODY DUST WHICH STILL
LINGERS THROUGH EVERY PART OF THEIR LIVES
! FORM OF RECONCILIATORY CREATIVITYˆEVEN IF INTRODUCED BY
A 7ESTERNERˆWHICH ALLOWS #AMBODIANS TO BEGIN BUILDING THEIR
OWN FOUNDATIONS FOR TRUST MUST NOT BE CONCEALED BEHIND DOORS OF
CULTURAL SELFRIGHTEOUSNESS $ESPITE THE CONCERN THAT #AMBODIA
MAY NOT BE READY FOR THE NEW THE STRANGE OR THE UNUSUAL
#AMBODIANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHETHER
THESE TOOLS ARE ONES WHICH THEY WANT TO USE /NE MAY ULTIMATELY
lND THAT ALL THAT #AMBODIANS ARE WAITING FOR IS THE INITIAL SPARK
AND LEADER TO lGHT FOR THIS CAUSE
4HROUGH A BALANCED TRANSFER OF IDEASˆFROM SUCH
ORGANIZATIONS AS 2EYUM TO THE LOCAL ARTISTS AND +HMER PEOPLEˆ
ONE REALIZES THAT THE POTENTIAL ROLE WHICH FOREIGNERS AND SPECIlC
7ESTERN IDEAS CAN PLAY IN #AMBODIA CAN SIGNIlCANTLY AND
POSITIVELY AFFECT THE LIVES OF NATIVES 7ITHOUT THE NECESSARY TRUST
LACKING IN PRESENT DAY #AMBODIA THE COUNTRYS DEVELOPMENTS
AND ATTEMPTS AT STANDING UP AGAIN WILL LIKELY CRUMBLE TO THE
GROUND (OWEVER BY USING TRUST AS A PLATFORM AND ART AS A
MICROPHONE THROUGH WHICH TO BEGIN ADDRESSING THE REAL NEEDS OF
THE +HMER PEOPLEˆTO ENTER INTO DIALOGUE WITH THE BURNING PAIN
OF THE LAST THIRTY YEARSˆ#AMBODIA WILL lND THE MEANS BY WHICH
TO BEGIN TO REMOVE FROM ITS EYES THE BLINDFOLD OF THE PAST AND
LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE WITH CLEARER VISION
0ART 6))
"ROWN FEET AND TOES HANDS AND lNGERS ARMS AND LEGS HAIRY AND
SMOOTH STRETCHING OUT FOLDED IN 4HEY TWITCH AND JERK SUPPORT
AND TRIP TENSE AND RELAX 0ATCHES OF DARKER GRAY AND SMUDGES OF
LIGHTER BLACK COAT THE SOLES AND TIPS OF THE TOES AND lNGERS AS THEY
MOLD ONTO THE HARD MOUNDS OF LAND BENEATH THEM 3OME FEET REST
mAT ON THE GROUND WHILE OTHERS ARCH IN A SEMICIRCLE STILL OTHERS
PRESS UP AGAINST THEIR NEIGHBORS OR CURL UP INTO THEMSELVES
5NDER THE SHADE OF A GREAT PALM TREE THE 2EYUM !RT 3CHOOL
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DO NOT FEEL THE POUNDING AND FORCEFUL SUN
WHICH SEEMS TO MAKE EVERYTHING WITHIN ITS GLEAMING REACH MOVE
IN LAZY STRIDE 4HE WARM WIND PASSES BY AS IF ON A CASUAL STROLL
#OWS BRUSH UP AGAINST BRITTLE LEAVES EVADING THE SHARP JAGGED
CACTI WHICH EMERGE FROM THE GROUND THROUGH UNFORGIVING VINES
AND THORNS 2IGID WEEDS PENETRATE SOFT PATCHES OF DIRT GRASS
AND SAND AND REMAIN VISIBLE THROUGHOUT THE mAT LAND OF THE
#AMBODIAN COUNTRYSIDE
4O THE BACKGROUND MUSIC OF CLINKING COW BELLS THE YOUNGER
STUDENTS RUN AND SKIP IN THE BUMPY lELD PLAYING GAMES WITH
SMALL SACKS OF SAND OR PLASTIC TOYS WHICH THEY FOUND NEAR AN OLD
FARM WAGON 3OME CHASE EACH OTHER WITH DRY PALM BRANCHES WHILE
OTHERS ROLL ALONG THE GROUND UNTIL SMALL DUST STORMS COVER THEM
AND ONLY THE SOUNDS OF HIGHPITCHED LAUGHTER ESCAPE 4HE OLDER
STUDENTS SIT NEARBY AGAINST TREES SPRAWLED ALONG THE GRASS OR ALIGNED
WITH ROCKS AND DRAW THE EXPANSIVE FARMLAND THE LARGE TREES THE
WATERlLLED RICE lELDS THE SMALL WOODEN SHACKS SPRINKLED ALONG
THE HORIZON 2ITH SITS PERCHED ON A SPLINTERED WOODEN PLOW AND
6AN#HAN DOZES NEARBY ON THE SEAT OF HIS MOTORBIKE ) SIT NEARBY
WRITING IN MY JOURNAL AND FEEL BOTH THE EXHAUSTION AND EXCITEMENT
OF OUR ISOLATION FROM THE CITY
4HE OLDER STUDENTS QUIETLY MUNCH ON THEIR TROPICAL FRUITS
WHILE SKETCHING THE PRELIMINARY OUTLINES OF THEIR DRAWINGS
AND PAINTINGS 3OME WEAR LONGSLEEVED SHIRTS AND PANTS WHILE
OTHERS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN OFF THEIR SHIRTS 4ODAY IT IS 3ATURDAY
MORNING AND ALMOST ALL OF THE 2EYUM STUDENTS HAVE
COME ALONG ON THIS lELD TRIP TO THE COUNTRYSIDE 4HEY SIT WITH
DRAWING PADS AND CANVASES 3OME STUDENTS COLOR THEIR IMAGES
WITH CRAYONS WHILE OTHERS LIGHTEN AND DARKEN THEIR PAPER WITH
WATERCOLORS 2ITH ELEGANTLY SHADES HIS CANVAS WITH BLUE GREEN
AND YELLOW OIL TONES !T LEAST HALF A DOZEN STUDENTS SHARE THE
LIMITED SUPPLY OF OIL PAINTS AND GRACEFULLY CREATE BLURRY AND
ABSTRACT IMAGES OF THE LANDSCAPE
&OR TODAY EVERYONES ASSIGNMENT REMAINS QUITE mEXIBLE DRAW
ANYTHING WITH ANYTHING THAT YOU LIKE IN ANY FORM THAT YOU WISH
"IBLIOGRAPHY
!SSEFA (IZKIAS h#OEXISTENCE AND 2ECONCILIATION IN THE .ORTHERN
2EGION OF 'HANAv 2ECONCILIATION *USTICE AND #OEXISTENCE 4HEORY
AND 0RACTICE -ARYLAND ,EXINGTON #HANDLER $AVID 0 4HE 4RAGEDY OF #AMBODIAN (ISTORY 0OLITICS
7AR AND 2EVOLUTION 3INCE .EW (AVEN 9ALE 5NIVERSITY
0RESS #HAYES !NTONIA -INOW -ARTHA )MAGINE #OEXISTENCE
#AMBRIDGE (ARVARD 0RESS #OLES 2OBERT 4HE #ALL OF 3ERVICE .EW 9ORK (OUGHTON -IFmIN
+IDDER 4RACY -OUNTAINS "EYOND -OUNTAINS .EW 9ORK 2ANDOM
(OUSE +RONDORFER "JORN 2EMEMBRANCE AND 2ECONCILIATION .EW (AVEN
9ALE 5NIVERSITY 0RESS ,IGHTFOOT 3ARA $AVIS *ESSICA 4HE !RT AND 3CIENCE OF
0ORTRAITURE 3AN &RANCISCO *OSSEY"ASE .ATH 6ANN ! #AMBODIAN 0RISON 0ORTRAIT 0HNOM 0ENH 7HITE
,OTUS .IMER !BU 2ECONCILIATION *USTICE AND #OEXISTENCE ,ANHAM
,EXINGTON "OOKS 2AY .ICK #AMBODIA 3INGAPORE ,ONELY 0LANET 2EYUM )NSTITUTE OF !RTS AND #ULTURE HTTPWWWREYUMORG
5NG ,OUNG &IRST 4HEY +ILLED -Y &ATHER ! $AUGHTER OF
#AMBODIA 2EMEMBERS .EW 9ORK (ARPER #OLLINS )NTERNATIONAL #ENTER FOR %THICS *USTICE AND 0UBLIC ,IFE