Art Histories Travelling Seminar
Thu 14 Mar 2019 – Mon 25 Mar 2019

Cultural Heritage and Post-Genocide Memory in Cambodia

The Art Histories Travelling Seminar 2019, organized by Hannah Baader and Gerhard Wolf (both Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz – Max-Planck-Institut/ Forum Transregionale Studien) in collaboration with Stéphanie Benzaquen-Gautier (Erasmus University, Rotterdam/ Art Histories Fellow 2018/19).

Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams at the artist talk with Svay Sareth and Maline Yim, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams at the artist talk with Svay Sareth and Maline Yim, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers

In thematic line with the symposium »Beyond Trauma? A Transregional Perspective on Trauma and Aesthetics« (13–15 June, 2019 at Forum Transregionale Studien and ICI Berlin), this year’s Art Histories Travelling Seminar was held under the title »Cultural Heritage and Post-Genocide Memory in Cambodia« from 14 to 25 March in Cambodia and Singapore. Meetings and discussions with scholars, archivists, artists, curators, and activists took place at the Center for Khmer Studies, the APSARA National Authority, the National Museum of Cambodia, at Bophana Audiovisual Research Center, and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The itinerary included intensive discussions on genocide and memory, artistic engagement with trauma, the potential layers of colonialism, dance and politics of cultural heritage, the urbanism of Phnom Penh and French colonial rule, the impact of New Khmer architecture in the 1960s and 70s as well as the entanglements of religious and ritual practices at the temple complexes of Angkor Thom, Banteay Srei and Sambor Prei Kuk, and sites such as Phnom Kulen. 

Guests and cooperation partners:
Barbara Thimm (Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum/ GIZ Advisor), Bertrand Porte (National Museum of Cambodia/ École Francaise d'Extrême Orient), Samedy Suong (Center for Khmer Studies), Svay Sareth, Maline Yim, Oum Sophea Pheach (Golden Silk Pheach Preservation Center), Pen Sereypagna (The Vann Molyvann Project), Lisa Horikawa (National Galery Singapore), and others.

Program

 

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Facade of Angkor Wat with Phoenix pattern inspired by Chinese textiles, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Facade of Angkor Wat with Phoenix pattern inspired by Chinese textiles, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Offerings at Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Offerings at Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Gerhard Wolf (Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz – MPI) and Lianming Wang (Heidelberg University/ Art Histories Fellow 2018/19) at the library of the Center for Khmer Studies, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Gerhard Wolf (Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz – MPI) and Lianming Wang (Heidelberg University/ Art Histories Fellow 2018/19) at the library of the Center for Khmer Studies, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Prasat at Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Prasat at Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Reclining Buddha at Baphuon temple, Angkor Thom, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Reclining Buddha at Baphuon temple, Angkor Thom, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Bas-Relief depicting scenes from everyday life (here: market scene and cock fight), gallery reliefs at Bayon temple, 12th century, Angkor Thom, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Bas-Relief depicting scenes from everyday life (here: market scene and cock fight), gallery reliefs at Bayon temple, 12th century, Angkor Thom, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams at Ta Prohm, Angkor region, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams at Ta Prohm, Angkor region, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Silk Workshop at Golden Silk Pheach Preservation Center, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Silk Workshop at Golden Silk Pheach Preservation Center, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams at the APSARA National Authority (Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap), Siem Reap, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams at the APSARA National Authority (Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap), Siem Reap, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams at Banteay Srei, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams at Banteay Srei, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Prasat Chrey (N18), ca. 7th century, Sambor Prei Kuk, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Prasat Chrey (N18), ca. 7th century, Sambor Prei Kuk, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Reclining Buddha at Preah Ang Thom pagoda, Phnom Kulen, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Reclining Buddha at Preah Ang Thom pagoda, Phnom Kulen, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Waterfall at Phnom Kulen, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Waterfall at Phnom Kulen, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Artist Svay Sareth with mask from his single-channel video “Beyond Sunflower” (2018). Photo: Helene Bongers
Artist Svay Sareth with mask from his single-channel video “Beyond Sunflower” (2018). Photo: Helene Bongers
Lianming Wang (Heidelberg University/ Art Histories Fellow 2018/19) presenting on “Kingfisher Feather: Cambodia and Qing Material Culture” on the bus drive to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Lianming Wang (Heidelberg University/ Art Histories Fellow 2018/19) presenting on “Kingfisher Feather: Cambodia and Qing Material Culture” on the bus drive to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Central Market (Phsar Thmei, built 1935–1937 by Louis Chauchon, Jean Desbois and Wladimir Kandaourow), Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Central Market (Phsar Thmei, built 1935–1937 by Louis Chauchon, Jean Desbois and Wladimir Kandaourow), Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
: Interior of the Central Market (Phsar Thmei, built 1935–1937 by Louis Chauchon, Jean Desbois and Wladimir Kandaourow), Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
: Interior of the Central Market (Phsar Thmei, built 1935–1937 by Louis Chauchon, Jean Desbois and Wladimir Kandaourow), Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams meet with Pen Sereypagna (Vann Molyvann Project), Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams meet with Pen Sereypagna (Vann Molyvann Project), Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Presentation by Sophia Prinz (Universität der Künste/ Art Histories Fellow 2018/19) on New Khmer Architecture and the White Building (1963, Lu Ban Hap and Vladimir Bodiansky, overseen by Vann Molyvann), Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Presentation by Sophia Prinz (Universität der Künste/ Art Histories Fellow 2018/19) on New Khmer Architecture and the White Building (1963, Lu Ban Hap and Vladimir Bodiansky, overseen by Vann Molyvann), Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Urban planting/ gardening at Mekong river, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Hannah Baader
Urban planting/ gardening at Mekong river, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Hannah Baader
Bertrand Porte (director of the restauration workshop, National Museum Cambodia/ École Francaise d’Extrême Orient) with the Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams discussing the large bronze statue Vishnu Anantashayin (West Mebon, Siem Reap, 11th century), National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Bertrand Porte (director of the restauration workshop, National Museum Cambodia/ École Francaise d’Extrême Orient) with the Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams discussing the large bronze statue Vishnu Anantashayin (West Mebon, Siem Reap, 11th century), National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Jayavarman VII, Sandstone sculpture from Krol Romeas, Angkor Thom, Angkorean period, Bayon style, 12th–13th century, National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Jayavarman VII, Sandstone sculpture from Krol Romeas, Angkor Thom, Angkorean period, Bayon style, 12th–13th century, National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Fronton with the combat of Bhima and Duryodhana, sandstone relief from Banteay Srei, late 10th century, National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Fronton with the combat of Bhima and Duryodhana, sandstone relief from Banteay Srei, late 10th century, National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
: Head dress, Apsara Cambodian dancers at the Royal Palace, early 20th century, National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
: Head dress, Apsara Cambodian dancers at the Royal Palace, early 20th century, National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Photo of Cambodian dancers at the storage facility of the National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Hannah Baader
Photo of Cambodian dancers at the storage facility of the National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Hannah Baader
Storage facility at the National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Storage facility at the National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams with archivist Ratana Lach at Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams with archivist Ratana Lach at Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Afonso Dias Ramos (Art Histories Fellow 2018/19) presenting on “Photography and Genocide at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum”, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Afonso Dias Ramos (Art Histories Fellow 2018/19) presenting on “Photography and Genocide at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum”, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Claudia Pfitzner
Conservation and restoration of textiles belonging to inmates of S-21 prison, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Hannah Baade
Conservation and restoration of textiles belonging to inmates of S-21 prison, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Hannah Baader
Meeting with Barbara Thimm (Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, GIZ advisor), on the reconstruction of the museum’s display, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Meeting with Barbara Thimm (Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, GIZ advisor), on the reconstruction of the museum’s display, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Killing Tree at Choeung Ek Killing Fields, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Killing Tree at Choeung Ek Killing Fields, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams at the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC Cam), Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Art Histories and CAHIM Fellows 2018/19 and teams at the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC Cam), Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Helene Bongers
Ceramic jar from the Tang dynasty (618–907) at the exhibition Tang Shipwreck, Museum of Asian Civilizations, Singapore. Photo: Helene Bongers
Ceramic jar from the Tang dynasty (618–907) at the exhibition Tang Shipwreck, Museum of Asian Civilizations, Singapore. Photo: Helene Bongers
Lisa Horikawa (Deputy Director and Senior Curator) at the National Gallery Singapore. Photo: Helene Bongers
Lisa Horikawa (Deputy Director and Senior Curator) at the National Gallery Singapore. Photo: Helene Bongers
: Interior of the National Gallery Singapore by studioMilou. Photo: Helene Bongers
Interior of the National Gallery Singapore by studioMilou. Photo: Helene Bongers

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