CLA’s Cultural Season in Phnom Penh: Artists Speak up in the Performance “Voice”
Musicians and dancers are rehearsing Ros Sokunthea’s “Voice” prior to the performances at the French Institute. Photo: Ros Sokunthea
- By Teng Yalirozy
- February 15, 2023 8:28 PM
PHNOM PENH — Being different can scary but this may lead to becoming a unique and authentic self.
With this in mind, Ros Sokunthea, who grew up in a family of Khmer traditional musicians, has blended that music with contemporary sounds to create music and dance that reflect the world of today.
His work “Voice,” which musicians and dancers perform on Feb. 16 and 18, is being staged as part of the Cultural Season of Cambodian Living Arts (CLA), which this NGO is holding in February and March at the French Institute in Phnom Penh.
“‘Voice’ refers to the sound of music, but more than that: We want to convey the meaning of the freedom asked for by artists and [freedom from] social pressure,” Sokunthea said. “We want the artists to stand up for themselves and fight for recognition of their work.”
Because creating something new in 2023 is not always easy, said Sokunthea who remembers having been put down more than once for attempting to create a new sound for 21st-century Cambodia.
A new sound and a new approach: “Voice,” which blends Cambodian traditional and contemporary music with Western music, tells a story inspired by his life that develops over five segments.
Sokunthea, who has known Khmer traditional music virtually since birth, enrolled in lakhaon kaol—Khmer traditional masked dance—at the Secondary School of Fines Art in Phnom Penh at the age of 8. Nine years later, he proceeded to pursue music at the Royal University of Fine Arts for four years.
Sokunthea’s grandfather had been a Khmer traditional musician and, for him, there was no question of setting this age-old music aside. He felt the urge to, not only protect and preserve Khmer traditional music, but also to use it as a basis and incorporate other types of music—Cambodian and Western—to produce new styles for today.
However, this has led Sokunthea to being put down and even discriminated against, he said. “Sometimes, over-conservative people are not happy with me trying to mix Western sound with our sound,” he said. “But it’s okay. I always take criticisms as a mean to improve myself.”
The Cultural Season of Cambodian Living Arts (CLA)
“Voice” is performed at 6:30 pm on Feb. 16 and 18 at the French Institute as a part of the Cultural Season of Cambodian Living Arts (CLA), which is taking place in February and March 2023.
The theme of this cultural season is "Your Kind, Our Kind" that, according to CLA, will look at how individuality, society’s pressure, and norms relate to expression and creativity.
According to Yon Sokhorn, CLA's director of arts development, the NGO decided to hold its Cultural Season at the French Institute for several reasons. The institute is conveniently situated in the heart of Phnom Penh; it is a hub for a variety of artistic and cultural events; and it is known to be accessible to and attract a vast audience, she said.
“It opens up new and strategic partnerships, especially for CLA and the French Institute, for future possibilities and synergy,” Sokhorn said.
Since 2018, CLA has held an annual cultural season featuring a number of performances, workshops, exhibitions and talks spread over one to two months in Phnom Penh and the surrounding provinces.
With the COVID-19 pandemic being under control and the return to normalcy, CLA plans to again hold events in the provinces, Sokhorn said. After its program at the French Institute, CLA will tour with three new works, and hold creative-writing and creative workshops in 12 communities in Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Thom provinces, Pailin and Preah Vihear provinces.
“With support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), it has expanded our role as a grant maker, providing more grants for artists, cultural entrepreneurs, performance troupes and grassroots organizations that are shaping the future of Cambodia’s arts sector,” Sokhorn said.
For more information on CLA’s program:
https://www.cambodianlivingarts.org/en/news/cultural-season-2023-your-kind-our-kind/
