What's Up Mag #25 September by Pierre Rabotin

2ND

ANNIVERSARY issue

#25

SIT H E R E and

R EA D

YOUR PL ACE あなたのお部屋

A lodge like room: compact room @the H22 ‒ Tama Hotel ($35～+VAT/night)

THIS IS NOT JUST A HOTEL The H22 - Hotel

<hotel, restaurant & bar + lounge all in one>

Many of Tama Hotel’s guest rooms feature large windows allowing you to easily take in the beautiful city view from your room. Pick your favourite room today!

The D22 - Dining and Bar + Lounge With various fresh vegetables and herbs from the local, the head chef adds his own twist to the traditional dishes that could go well with wines. Dining: 6:30-22:00, Bar: 16:30-25:00.

Eggs Benedict

[$6+VAT]

[Hotel] 023-964-020 [Dining & Bar] 023-964-021 Phnom Penh Tower 22F https://www.facebook.com/d22h22

Co-Founder & Managing Director Antony Hamon

Dear readers,

Editor In Chief Pierre Rabotin

It’s quite hard to believe this month’s What’s Up magazine celebrates its two-year anniversary. For the occasion we turned the content upside down to present you the essence of what we’ve been trying to do for the past two years - give people the space to express themselves. So this month, all our pages are dedicated to those who influence Cambodian society. This issue is about them, using their words and their words only to describe our environment. The people who have witnessed the evolution from past to present to

Editor Julia White Designers Tanya Cooper Photographers Nick Sells Jeremie Montessuis Mona Simon Lauren Crothers Cheky Athiporn Julia White Distribution Manager Ung Rithivan Special Thanks Neilly Din Cover Portrait of DJ Buffy by Nick Sells at: So Shoot Me Studio ..... Hair by Vaughan Joseph @ Bearhanded Studie Make Up by Brianne Chappell @ Kate Korpi Salon Artistic Direction - Jemma Galvin WHAT’S UP MAGAZINE contact@wuppmag.com facebook/wupp.magazine www.wuppmag.com 097 958 7338

show you the new face of Cambodia – the one that is still attached to its tradition but hungry for more. And this change mimics what’s going on at What’s Up. Over the last two years we have seen a drastic evolution of our content, style and identity. We’re always trying to report from the boiling point and hope to communicate that energy and lifestyle to you. And in this melting pot, we hope to be a bridge between cultures. We are grateful to our readers for continuing

to support us. We can’t thank you enough. After two years we have much to improve. But we guarantee that we produce this magazine every month with passion and honesty. We have so many people to thank, lots of them are featured in this issue. We would like to thank all the people who have been involved in the magazine’s growth and transformation over the last two years. It has been a hell of a ride.

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BEARHANDED

Thank you all for the support, the interest, the love.

The What’s Up team

#1, Street 21 (inSide the WilloW Boutique hotel), Phnom Penh, CamBodia

Tel: +855 93 700 431 6

www.facebook.com/bearhanded

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Agenda

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Nยบ 25 - sept 2014

In Conversation funny people

Photostory transgression

Feature Changing spaces

behind the scenes

New Discoveries

Content

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DISCOVERIES

new discoveries

LyLy Cream

Our Latest Favourite Things

Jay’s Diner

If you’re craving a taste of New York, look no further than Jay’s diner - an homage to the city’s 1950 eateries. Get cozy in a booth and order an array of Americana favourites such as burgers and steaks. And, of course, a New York style diner wouldn’t be complete without a pastrami sandwich. For those who went a bit too hard the night before, you can grab a greasy spoon breakfast all day long.

FArtist Guesthouse: No. 69, St. 178 g023 213 930 ` Jays Diner Artist

p the-artist-guesthouse.com

Connecting Hands If you’re looking for a dining experience that makes a difference, check out Australian-based Connecting Hands Café. The newly opened cafe works with women who have escaped enslavement from the sex industry offering accommodation and training in the restaurant business. And the training is showing up on the plates with dishes like crunchy zucchini fritters, sweet banana and turmeric crepes. p connectinghands.com.au

KOI Café Bubble tea has been making tapioca waves across Phnom Penh for quite some time. But it appears the boba is not stopping anytime soon. Taiwanese bubble tea chain KOI Café has opened their second branch in the newly built Vattanac Capital building. And the franchise doesn’t stop at just tea, bubbles and milk, you can also get yourself caffeinated on cappuccinos, macchiatos and iced lattes

FNo.

120B, Russian Confederation Blvd, Khan Toul Kork - 092 699 777 p www.koicafe.com/kh ` koicafekhmer

DONG GIA If you’re looking to inject a little class to your teatime, Dong Gia may be of help. The French company offers ceramic teapots and tableware for all your entertaining needs. And all the items are made in the Mekong Delta region. But if you’re not planning to add to those miscellaneous cracked mugs at home, Dong Gia also has a line of handmade ceramic jewelry.

FUnit A-01 (next to Lucky), Rose Garden

Apartments, Bassac Garden (next to AEON Mall) / 092 815 483 p www.dong-gia.com ` Donggiaphnompenh

This year’s rainy season is bringing little respite from the sweltering heat. And while we all melt under the sun, Lyly Cream is offering some relief. The ice cream maker promises 100% natural homemade Belgian ice cream and sorbets with flavours ranging from raspberry or, if you’re the adventurous type, more daring Kampot pepper and lime. Look out for their van, delivering the creamy goodness to restaurants across the city.

g0976 327 376 / 0886 196 102 ` LYLYCREAM

Rambutan Hotel & Resort Siem Reap If you’ve stayed at the gay-friendly Golden Banana Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap in the past, don’t be confused if you plan to return. The hotel, owned by Rambutan resorts, has decided to change to its namesake. But don’t worry, you’ll notice little change besides the logo on the towels. The natural stone pool is staying right where it should.

g 012 654 638 - 063 766 655 X bookings@rambutansr.com p www.rambutans.info

behind the scenes Our cover is our identity. It’s the first thing people notice and what we’ve nurtured over the last two years. To celebrate one more year of great cover shoots, we dug into our archives to share with our readers some of the best moments of What’s Up history.

#19 A selfie of a selfie. Nick Sells takes a picture of massive pop star Meas SokSophea taking a selfie.

#20

#14

#21 #15

#2073/14

#23

#16 We wanted Tin to scr eam on the cover but he thought he would look “fucking stupid”. So we had to get him intoxicated to get what we wanted. He then started shouting profanities at Nick. Nick’s reply: “yes keep going, that’s the spirit”

#24

#18

enge before it Ice bucket chall

was cool.

This was one of the trickiest photos we had to produce because we needed to make it rain inside Nick’s studio. After four hours of testing we finally came up with a homemade device . But the pipe burst after 5 minutes. For tunately, it was enough for Nick to get the perfect shot.

CHANGING SPACES  julia white and Pierre rabotin

 nick sells, mona simon, jeremie montessuis, julien quentin

There is no doubt Cambodia is in the midst of change. Just look around and it’s hard to avoid looking at the cranes and halffinished buildings dotting the skyline. But in the midst of this physical transformation, there’s a cultural shift reflected in everything from music, arts, food and fashion. On our twoyear anniversary we wanted to look back at what’s driving the change and what’s in store for the future. So we went to the artists, thinkers and young leaders in Phnom Penh to get their perspective on today’s cultural landscape.

EYES of Cambodia

Mu Sochua Member of Parliament, CNRP Human Rights Advocate When the CNRP first sat in the National Asssembly last month, you posted on your Facebook “the first steps towards a culture of dialogue”. Do you expect this dialogue to affect real change in the country? Sam Rainsy turned the bitter page of Khmers keeping each other as enemies on August 8th. An ocean of ice does not melt under the first ray of sun but sooner or later the ocean of ice will have to change. Hun Sen has only one alternative: play the new game. And he has, by forcing himself and his team to deal with land victims. We should praise him. We will continue to monitor each little piece of change. Supporters on our side are also watching us. Both sides will have to perform and the people are the referees. I am hopeful.

The Economist argued that “many in the CNRP are more comfortable as political activists grabbing headlines than as an effective opposition.” What do you say to those critics? We will remain as activists in the sense that we will continue to stay close to the grassroots. Our platform is based on the reality of the grassroots. We will act as politicians by changing the rules as Loyal Opposition. We will also set the agenda for change through our performance as chairs of five commissions. You will see it after a week of us taking over the commissions. Women in Cambodia are still underrepresented in Parliament. And across the country, only about 10% of women over the age of 25 have some secondary education. What are you doing as the opposition to help change that? Young women see that they do have alternatives. I am always surrounded by young women

 pen puthsaphea

When you look around Phnom Penh, the change is palpable. New buildings. New malls. New trends. But across Cambodia few are benefiting from the rapid development. Land conflicts, democratic reform and women’s rights issues continue to dominate the headlines. And the public has hit the streets demanding better. So we went to the city’s watchdogs – the politicians, journalists and the historians of the country’s turbulent past – to find out how they envision the future Kingdom of Wonder.

"Hun Sen has only one alternative: play the new game"

Thomas Cristofoletti Photojournalist, ruom collective

 pen puthsaphea

Phnom Penh is a highly changing bubble. You can’t really say the same about the provinces.

who are part of the change movement. They learn to step out of traditional roles and to become independent. You see them every day. They speak up on Facebook. The opposition core values are based on human dignity and justice and it starts with investing in education and giving value to quality education. In 2010 you told the New York Times that you had to be careful about pushing a westernized idea of women’s empowerment in Cambodia. How do you feel about that today? I always think twice about new ideas or pushing my agenda for gender equality because it needs to be engaging and [there needs to be] public awareness. Even when I was going to “free” Freedom Park, I rehearsed in my head what I would say so that the message would resonate and be understood, so that I am not thus a crazy, liberal American woman. I chose to stay focused as changing attitudes and minds require repeating the message of change. }

“I rehearsed in my head what I would say so that the message would resonate and be understood, so that I am not thus a crazy, liberal American woman.”

But when I look at what’s happening, I think some people benefit from development while others have things taken away from them. ‘We give you water and electricity but at the same time we take your land.’ I went to Mondulkiri in 2011 and they were burning forests. I went back a few days ago and it’s now plantations everywhere. You need to drive at least an hour to find the ”jungle”. The process is complete. The most remarkable change is Boeng Kak lake. I went two days ago and they’re now building

a big road in the middle of the lake. They evicted thousands of families and for what exactly? How many of those same cases happen in remote areas and we have no idea about them. When protests began last September, it wasn’t because of the CNRP. It was because people really want change. It was really cool to see those young people fighting for something. It wasn’t clear to them what changes they want though. It’s more like ‘we don’t like this but we don’t know yet how it should be.’ But change needs time. It’s something you need to create. In my opinion, it will take at least five years or until the next election. This country needs a transition and a serious democratic confrontation. }

"It was really cool to see those young people fighting for something. It wasn’t clear to them what changes they want though.”

 nick sells

Vann Channarong Son of Vann Nath, painter and survivor of S-21

 cynthia lecount samake

Last year was the year of great civic engagement from young Cambodians. More young people were seen on the streets campaigning for their favourite political party. And they started to speak up on some compelling issues facing them and their communities. Technology and innovations are a huge part of any country’s development. Blogging is only a technical tool, but technology is nothing without innovative content. I think social media is such a cool and free platform for anyone to voice their opinions and share information deemed important for their communities. Cambodia isn’t the only country that has shown reluctance on fully embracing social media

because of its uncontrollable impact on a lot of country’s political landscapes. We need to keep this space clean and uncensored so that we could see diversities of ideas but in a responsible way so as not to promote rumors. So far no government has denied the importance and impact of social media on societies. It helps people who used to stay quiet [about] their rights; it helps the government listen to the voices of their people; it helps companies grow their businesses in an unconventional way. I still believe that social media is paving the way for a better society which values its citizens’ ideas and delivers what it has promised. And, yes, social media is helping bring new cultural insights to our society. }

"… social media is paving the way for a better society which values its citizens’ ideas and delivers what it has promised.”

For him, it was important to share his experience. He wanted to pass on the story of what he lived through to the next generations so they understood the inhumanity and don’t allow it to happen again. Some families don’t talk about it because of the pain. My father thought people should share [their stories] to find peace. He didn’t want people to have died for nothing.

 coutresy of vann channarong

Kounila Keo Blogger / Journalist

I don’t know what my father would have said about the recent decision at the tribunal (that found Khmer Rouge leaders, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, guilty of crimes against humanity). But what I know, from what he said after Duch’s judgment, is that it was good and helped restore balance. [Now] victims can be treated as equals, look their persecutors in the eyes and get an explanation.

For me, today, life is easy. I go freely wherever I want - to the market or the cinema. For him, everything was a struggle. He passed his values onto me. He wanted me to study, learn a lot about life and work a fulfilling job. He told me I could do whatever. My plan is to re-open his gallery to the public. I want to carry on his memory. }

“He didn’t want people to have died for nothing.” 25

r e t r a u Q n i Lat

EARS of Cambodia

new chef new menu new ways Friday 5th september Brugal Night

Sunday 14th september sunday serenade

Sunday 21st september sunday serenade

WE RECHRISTEN PHNOM PENH'S HIDDEN JEWEL OF A BAR “THE UPSTAIRS” SOUTH AMERICAN COCKTAIL BAR WITH THE FINEST Brugal Rum AND DJ Bluesabelle WITH TROPICAL DANCE, LATIN BEATS AND FUNKY SOULFUL GOODNESS. upstairs 9:00pm to 12:00AM

DJ BluesAbelle WILL SERENADE ONCE A MONTH WITH THE FINEST SELECTION OF TROPICAL SOUL, LATIN RHYTHM AND ROOTS REGGAE 4:00pm to 8:00pm

SPECIAL GUEST DJ chantal AUStralia WILL PLAY WITH DJ BluesAbelle, THE BEST, NU BOSSA, LATINO HOUSE AND BRAZIL BEATS. 4:00pm to 8:00pm

PHONE: 093 319 081 CORNER OF STREETS 178 AND 19, PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA WWW.THELATINQUARTER.NET

laura mam Singer, Songwriter You’ve said before that “Cambodia’s movement is my life passion”. How do you express that in your music? I believe that music is a powerful tool that one can use as a vehicle to deliver messages. Music has the power to bring people together, to help us identify ourselves, express our common sufferings and identify the people around us that share the same feelings. I wanted to encourage others, particularly Cambodians living in the diaspora, to come fall in love with a country that some are still too afraid to visit because of what they have heard. I wanted Cambodians in Cambodia to give diaspora Cambodians a chance to forgive us, in a sweet way, for not knowing what to do culturally and realize how we are often afraid of embarrassing ourselves in Cambodian

situations because we don’t know quite what to do. Our generation has dealt with a huge cultural void and my musical discovering are designed for exploring ideas, genres, history, identity conflicts and culture shock with the hope that we will embrace our cultural diversity so that we can absorb cultural influences of the world to make a better society for the next generation. In my next album, I explore the sounds of our traditional past and willingly mix them with dance music. I hope that Cambodians all over the world, and especially in Cambodia will hear this original music with familiar traditional sounds. I will feel good if I can successfully spark their curiosity about our past beyond the Khmer Rouge.

For many in Phnom Penh the sound of hammers and drills is the first thing we hear. That now ubiquitous noise of construction has become our unified alarm clock. But as the night falls, the city’s bars and clubs are filled with a different tune. From Khmer Pop to ’60s rock and House on the decks, new music is getting more attention. So we wanted to know what’s in store for Cambodia’s burgeoning music scene.

 courtesy of the artist

You’ve also said this is a time of Cambodia’s cultural re-awakening. How do you see that reflected in your work? My next album, In Search of Heroes, is an album that is quite different from the other music I’ve released. I have been observing Cambodia for the last five years as I’ve been working on and off there every year. Cambodia’s youth has become quite aware of their own power and, in my belief, have the potential to energetically shift the country’s attitude towards problem solving. In one of my songs, I have a lyric that says, “This ain’t revolution, this is evolution.” What I am saying to young Cambodians is that we can debate, we can fight, we can protest and we can argue about what direction the country must take. But when we grow, we must evolve into this desired state. We have been through too many revolutions and according to our past, they have NEVER worked out well for us. Violence and immediate change has never helped Cambodia for the better, it has only dug us into deeper holes even if we look as far back as Lon Nol’s military coup against King Sihanouk. What Cambodia needs in my opinion, is slow and gradual change. We need to understand our roles as a people united in their desire to see Cambodia restored to its former dignity. In my belief, Cambodia is not going to be saved by one person in politics, business or art. It’s going to take all of us finding the heroes within ourselves, and each contributing to this society. The strength of the fabric of our society is going to be held together by a strong collection of leaders and a common understanding that we must sew Cambodia into something beautiful one string at a time.

“… we can debate, we can fight, we can protest and we can argue about what direction the country must take. but when we grow, we must evolve into this desired state." How do you envision Cambodia changing? In an ideal future, Cambodia’s youth will take on the challenge of developing Cambodia with an unmatched ambition driven by our desire to honor those who have come before us, pick up that torch, and move together as a society towards a future where Cambodia can independently take care of all of its children. [In my next album] I am asking youth directly to find those heroes in themselves and continuously contribute to this society in whatever way they know how, big or small. I ask of our generation to listen to the wisdom of elders, discover the wisdom in our history, and allow wisdom from all corners of the world to teach us about how to help our country. And from these lessons, I hope that they apply wisdom, compassion and ambition to restoring Cambodia’s dignity through the empowerment of its people. }

"This ain’t revolution, this is evolution" 29

“People are familiar with the idea of copying songs from other artists because it’s been going on for many years. And that has encouraged me and many other young artists to do something different.”

Nikki Nikki You have mentioned Beyonce and Adele as your inspirations. Where do you find inspiration locally? Locally, I admire and look up to people like [street artist] Lisa Mam and [spoken word artist] Kosal Khiev. Lisa Mam has opened up a lot to me and that allows me to understand more about her battles, her patience and her beliefs. She is one of the strongest females I’ve ever known. Mr. Kosal Khiev inspires me through his lyrical work. Some of the things have not only put me in tears, but seeps powerfully into my bones. So I’m very proud to know great Cambodians like them. There is pressure to modernize and sing in English yet maintain your Cambodian heritage. How do you find that balance in your music? I like to reach out to international audiences, but I never try to hide who I am or where I am from. It’s hard to say much right now when my album isn’t released yet. People haven’t seen the rest of me, so what I can tell them now is there’s a lot of pressure to sing in English yet try to maintain my Cambodian heritage. For my next songs, I plan to write and sing both in my own language and in English. Also I plan to incorporate Cambodian elements into my music videos. There may be hidden messages or there may be artistic ways to honor my Cambodian identity. But all of this is still in the discussion process and planning. You’re part of the Songkites project which encourages “creativity and authentic expression” of young Khmer artists. What does that mean to you? Encouraging not just creativity and authentic expression, Songkites also promotes originality and provides what

I would call “a home” for artists who are trying to make a difference. So being a part of Songkites means the world to me. I feel like I have the freedom to escape my sorrows and regrets and let myself be moved by music and my fans. It’s like therapy for my soul. What kind of change are you seeing in the local music scene in Phnom Penh? How are you part of that? People are familiar with the idea of copying songs from other artists because it’s been going on for many years. And that has encouraged me and many other young artists to do something different. So now, I can say that it’s becoming a new habit for people, especially youth, to write and sing original songs. We can see how it’s changing through singing competitions like Hear My Song, through Songkites and through all the original songs posted to Youtube, Facebook and SoundCloud by young artists. I believe I am one of those people who are secretly trying to make a turn. Hopefully, creating original music becomes the new norm. What do you want your legacy to be in Cambodia and among Cambodians? Cambodia is known for its legendary music and art. Being involved in music and embracing it is significant for me. Music is also a tool to bring peace and unity. Therefore, I just want people to know that I have tried to reach out to them through my music, and that I have been cherishing the value of what has been taken for granted over the past years. I will continue to make original music and be active in supporting artists who are doing the same thing. Hopefully, people will understand how much effort I have put in or what I have to go through to do what we simply call music. }

 courtesy of the artist

Singer, Songwriter

Julien Poulson

Lead Singer, Sliten6ix

We find our influence in ‘60s rock. We’re living in those archives, the great songs from the past, but we’re using that as a springboard to create a new voice and vision of Cambodia.

What drew me to the [metal] genre is the feeling that it gives me - the aggression, the heaviness and the no bullshit lyrics.

The crowd at our shows is pretty mixed but we still operate in a “barang land”. But there is a whole new generation of Cambodian people who are coming and they like what they hear. They are proud to reconnect with this cultural heritage. The Cambodian Space project is also the success of our singer Channthy, a bare foot rice farmer who became this punky, cheeky artist who took the world. She’s a very empowered Cambodian artist who comes from Prey Veng, literally the land of the beggars and the poorest province in the country. People were saying she shouldn’t be fronting the band because she’s a black girl. The fact that she’s standing here on an international stage is a revolution in itself. }

 peter mcmahon

 nick sells

Cambodian Space Project

The song “I’m Unsatisfied” [from the new album Electric Blue Boogaloo available next year] is more like a Jon Spencer Blues Explosion version than the original Pan Ron song. Back in the day it would have been rhythm and blues. The lyrics are hilarious - something about a psycho woman stalking her man who looks like a trapped monkey in a cage. I don’t know exactly but that’s what I’m told.

Vanntin Hoeurn But I don’t think [metal] represents the political change or economical change because most of the Khmer bands here just love to play and perform for the sake of the genre. However, personally, I write a lot of dark stuff and generally refer to how people manipulate and abuse others. Of course, it also refers to politicians as well since it fits into that category - the cunt category.

Myley rattle

The movement here [grew] because we just got tired of all the mainstream K-pop music and the commercialized over-produced shit. Uncreative and money-seeking productions just plagiarize shit from others to generate a quick income but produce bad, offensive and valueless music. Most Khmers are exposed to that cunting music. }

Owner, Show Box Show Box was originally supposed to be about music but things have shifted and we welcome new Khmer artists in visual arts, spoken word, things I didn’t think of in the first place. Show Box gives accessibility. We give people the opportunity to try without judging. The interest towards new forms of expression is linked to the rise of a middle class people who have more time to think and explore [new] topics; people who are questioning their life and society. When you’re poor you worry about surviving. It’s a luxury to have enough time to think. It’s, then, easier to think outside the box. If people are unsatisfied or they’re trying something different, that’s the point of Show Box - it’s meant to be a forum. }

“… we just got tired of all the mainstream K-pop music and the commercialized overproduced shit.”  nick sells

DJ Illest Co-Owner, Pontoon & Duplex The Khmer DJ scene is still small. They have grown and added their own twist, mixing Khmer tracks into club tracks. DJ GANG is known for his scratching skills now. But he is still known by only a marginal part of Phnom Penh youth. There are other Khmer DJs who are producing “Asian techno Electronic Dance Music”. Although “Asian EDM” is not my favorite, I have to give it to them for trying to create something on their own. It is thanks to international DJs and their curiosity that they have managed to acquire their own style of play. But we need more exposure for our Khmer DJs.

 nick sells

“It is thanks to international DJs and their curiosity that Khmer DJs have managed to acquire their own style of play.”

}

DJ Sequence Without wishing to sound too idealistic, music and especially, in our view, dance music can be such an amazing tool to bring seemingly different cultures together. From a personal perspective, I remember the early days of Rave in the ‘90s and how it brought together so many people from different cultures who would have never known each other otherwise. If we can bring together people from different backgrounds - expats, Khmers, tourists - together, dancing under one roof then I think we’ll have really achieved something. Cambodia is in a unique political and societal situation at the moment and the potential to build something big is certainly there. }

 nick sells

Founder, phnom-penh-underground.com

hands of Cambodia

Rachel Faller Founder and Creative Director of Tonlé What does it mean to be in the fashion industry in Cambodia? People expect that if you’re in Cambodia you’re doing something socially minded or participating in full-blown exploitation. Especially for people who work in development, there is an expectation that everyone who comes here must be doing something on the social side. By saying I’m in fashion people make this assumption that you’re exploiting people unless you explicitly state the opposite. But I also think there is some middle ground between being an NGO income-generating project that doesn’t really have a design focus whatsoever and the mass scale, mass manufacturing brands that are exploiting their workers. And I hope that our business can be something in the middle. Socially responsible clothing lines often have a higher price tag. In a country where much of the population can’t afford that price, how do you engage them?

We’ve created a situation where we’ve been made to believe that we can’t afford products made on a living wage in our own country. And that’s the same thing going on here. Cambodian people feel they cannot afford product made with a living wage in their own country. And I think it’s not because we can’t afford it but because of the way that we shop and the way that we consume clothing. We consume clothing at such a scale that we can’t afford to buy it at a reasonable wage and that’s not because of the price, it’s because of the way that we’ve basically been indoctrinated. 200 years ago in North America, everything that we bought was made in your local community. You bought your knives from the local blacksmith, you bought your food from the local farmer, you bought your clothes from the local tailor. And you only bought a few pieces of clothing because that’s what you could afford. And now, because we’ve managed to mechanize everything and ship it overseas, we can afford way more clothes.

 julia white

It’s easy to think Phnom Penh is suffering an identity crisis as modern highrise building stand next to dilapidated villas of the Golden Age. But the struggle between modernity and tradition is not only physical. The next generation is fighting to build something new while paying homage to the country’s cultural past. So we went to the young leaders of innovation and creativity for their perspective on moving the country forward.

"We’ve created a situation where we’ve been made to believe that we can’t afford products made on a living wage in our own country. "

feature

 courtesy of sen tharo

Sen Tharo

How do you then rebel against the fast-fashion system? It’s hard because it’s so all-encompassing. And I think even Cambodia, as people are starting to get more money, you can see that it is trending towards that materialistic culture. And I think any society that’s getting richer and makes more money has to go through that cycle. They go through that cycle first where I need to consume, consume, consume and defining yourself by what you consume. I think anti-consumer culture has to have consumer culture first. Unfortunately, that’s the natural cycle in some ways. Since the economic recession hit there’s been a really strong trend towards buying really good quality and spending more money but buying less clothing. But that can’t happen until you’ve gone through

Does Phnom Penh need to look to the East or West for a fashion trends or can it be homegrown? Fashion largely follows other aspects of culture, for example the music scene in Phnom Penh. Fashion will develop along side of that because it follows other cultural movements that are going on. Cambodia’s art culture and the idea of sub-culture are still developing. So if you don’t have that then fashion is not going to exist independently. In places like Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City there is a more developed arts and music scene in general so you see fashion blossoming along as well. Phnom Penh is smaller, but I think with more training in design and more supports for the arts and the cultural scene that surrounds it, you’ll start to see more of that coming out through fashion. }

 julien quentin

the obsession with brands and consumption. And I think that Cambodia is going through that now.

Cambodia is the least mentioned startup country. Even in Southeast Asia it is after emerging Myanmar. It is pretty sad to say there are few funded successful startups in Cambodia. After I pitched [my technology startup] in various countries, people simply said “we don’t know much about Cambodia”. There is no interest in investing in Cambodian startups despite the potential of the ideas. They judge quality of the startups based on market scalability. Funding and network expansion could be the options to drive greater interest of Cambodia’s Startup investment. }

Dara Phang Bokator Fighter Bokator helped bring me peace and an open mind. It is a great practice to help not only make your body stronger but also your brain and your heart. The problem is that it’s an ancient discipline and it is difficult to push it to young people. But if you embrace this art, if you embrace your history and culture, you can then look forward. What I see from my generation is that they want to have fun, go out to clubs and be happy for five minutes. But after that, what happens? They don’t know. If you don’t take care of young people they easily join the darkness. }

 nick sells

But we couldn’t afford those clothes made in our own country. So my theory is that it’s not necessarily about whether we can afford it or not but reshaping how we consume.

julia white

"Cambodia’s art culture and the idea of subculture is still developing. So if you don’t have that then fashion is not going to exist independently."

Young Entrepreneur, Founder of TrendX

Sam Jam

Owner, the skateshop Since the official opening of the skateshop [last year] we have seen rapid progression of how well everybody is skating. Local kids and teenagers are improving very quickly and challenging themselves to improve and learn more tricks. But not having a free, public space to skate is a constant issue. We make use of the few public spaces in and around the city where skateboarding is tolerated. Without a doubt, if a public space to skate was granted it would benefit the local scene tremendously. It’s something we’re continually working on and pushing for and will hopefully see in the near future. }

lisa mam Street Artist

Graffiti and street art is found in a number of locations on hotels, restaurants and abandoned buildings; in areas marked for development, the fencing that surrounds it and the countless alleyways; and on the internal and external facade of businesses who are happy to promote all art as long as it is colorful and does not refer to ghosts or politics. For as long as these elements exist, street art will thrive along with those who practice it. But incorporating a political theme can cause unwanted attention on the burgeoning graffiti and street art scene in Cambodia so it is generally avoided. The act of painting illegally is rebellious in itself but there is an underlying element of egoism attached. It is self-promotion, after all. If an individual reacts to what we do in a positive way that enables personal expression, then I say bravo. Let it all out.

peap taRR Street Artist

"The first ruler of our empire was a woman"

The city’s environment is changing. And buildings are starting to be designed better than the kinds of buildings that were going up in the ‘90s. Before the war, Phnom Penh was a very well laid out, clean and beautiful city. And right now things are changing faster than ever. There are more decent looking cafés, there’s Aeon Mall and various establishments are being remodeled and given a facelift.

 nick sells

I think art is one small part of the movement in our country. The more talented artists from Cambodia get exposure, the more people from abroad want to explore Cambodia’s culture. It will [bring] many opportunities to our society and culture. }

Street Artist

I don’t think this will greatly affect urban art but only enhance things, even more so if businesses in Cambodia collaborate with urban artists. I see huge potential here and this could truly enhance the urban setting

I believe the characters and attitudes you encounter in Phnom Penh are unlike any of those you would find elsewhere throughout the country. I would refer to the work of Francisco Goya, specifically Capricho No. 42 “Tu que no puedes”. But on a lighter note, any caricature that relates to youth would be a manga troll rendered as plastic that would hopefully make no sense at all. }

of Phnom Penh. Street or graffiti art is like a living visual entity. It will grow and adapt to any setting as long as the artist has vision and creativity. To see real change we have to represent the new and next generation. Not to dismiss our history and culture, but to change the things that are not practical in modern times. We should keep the best of what Khmer culture represents and never forget the good and bad of our history. But we as people must evolve and change to do new things. This is the basic idea of evolution. And I believe not in a violent change or in revolution but a peaceful creative evolution. }

 courtesy of the artist

What prevents women from taking part in street art, at least in my case, is family. Khmer women have certain rules that apply to them. But I think it’s quite different now. Women have more rights to do what they love and make their dreams come true. It’s 2014! Women in Cambodia are working it like bosses!

 khmer face

What inspired me from Cambodia’s history is how our [kingdom] was formed, especially how the first ruler of our [kingdom] was a woman, Liǔyè (Queen Soma). We are rich in culture in terms of music and art. The intricate details on Khmer carvings on the walls of Angkor Wat and other Khmer temples show that we have our own unique creativity. That’s why I love to put female figures in my art along with patterns that reflect our culture but in a modern way.

venk

To see real change we have to represent the new and next generation. Not to dismiss our history and culture, but to change the things that are not practical in modern times.

 julia white

mouth of Cambodia

luu meng

Chef and Owner of the Thalias group of restaurants President, Cambodia Hotel Association

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h Monivon

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ea BLVD Pr

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#9 street 101, Sangkat Boeung Trabek, Phnom Penh

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00 855 (0) 89 697 914 facebook.com/polarbearscafe2014

You’re a big promoter of Khmer cuisine. What are the challenges? For the last few years I’ve been traveling the country to tell people about Cambodian cuisine. And that’s how people start to understand it. And sometime when people see me on television, either in an interview or cooking, I can tell them how the food tastes.

Some people still don’t know Cambodian food. And some people they don’t know if it’s spicy or sour or if it’s [about] fish sauce. So that’s why it’s our job to make people start enjoying it. But sometimes foreigners think something is Cambodian food but they don’t really understand the roots. Some dishes are made here and were created here. But some dishes, Cambodians [simply] like. People sometimes don’t understand the difference. Some tourists say ‘I’m cooking Cambodian spring rolls’. But at the end of the day a spring roll is still a spring roll. It’s from

The city’s food and fashion landscape is changing at super speed. There is no shortage of international cuisine. And new restaurant, from Indian to Russian, are popping up every month. But fashion stores are keeping pace. With a shiny new mega mall, Khmer kids can now outfit themselves in the latest trends from the streets of Japan and Thailand. And though the city is trying to quickly establish itself as both a culinary and a shopping destination, is Khmer food and fashion getting lost in the global fusion? We went to the tastemakers to find out.

"Food is like fashion and like culture. It continues to develop. But we should not mix and say other cultures are Cambodian" Vietnam. That is something we can’t mix. Some foreigners who have never traveled to Asia get mixed up and ask why Cambodians have spring rolls. [That’s because] Cambodians love to eat spring rolls.

 julia white

Is it important to keep the tradition of how Cambodian dishes are made? Food is like fashion and like culture. It continues to develop. But we should not mix and say other cultures are Cambodian. You can create. You can change. But, for example, I’m cooking Cambodian Tom Yum soup that doesn’t mean anything [in Cambodia]. Instead, I say I’m cooking a Cambodian prawn soup with a sour taste and I create the name. Certain levels, the basics and the traditions we need to keep. But [the cuisine] will be ongoing.

International restaurants are starting to flood the Phnom Penh market. How is it affecting Khmer cuisine? Khmer cuisine still has its own identity. It’s still growing, in fact. And the new concepts are also very good for the country because [that means] there is confidence and attracts more tourists. So international clients say [they’ve] decided to go to Phnom Penh, a small city of about 2 million, and they have thousands of restaurants. From Moroccan to Russian to Indian, there is so much choice. Cambodian food is still identified. It’s yet another choice. So our country reaches a higher level. In a way, all this competition [raises] the quality and choice for the consumer.

There’s a lot changing. Before people would eat ten times at the roadside [stalls]. Now they eat five times at the roadside and five times they seek another choice. People get a better life. They’re developing. Instead of eating at the roadside, where it’s dirty, unhygenic, dusty, noisy and very low price, [they] have a better environment. So I think [the development] is very good but [we need] to keep a balance and not to overdo this. We need to continue to grow. The tourism industry is exploding across Cambodia. There is a rapid growth of new hotels, new malls, new restaurants. Is it sustainable? [The industry] and the government need to work closer to promote more visitors. It’s like the chicken and the egg. If there’s [nowhere to stay] then we won’t have enough visitors. We must continue promoting more access and easier direct flights so more people come. Development demands a lot of that. What is not sustainable is that we need skilled people. This is the issue. We need professional schools to start for the tourism [industry]. This is a very hot topic – how to keep sustainable service with a high level of quality. Everyone needs these types of people. How is your company tackling this challenge? We are doing advanced training. We need to train a lot. We are doing our own. Unofficially, it’s a school. We are training our people before we put up a new project. It costs us time, energy and funding. }

I think in a way [to promote Cambodian food] is through the produce. I’ve cooked with lemongrass in the Seychelles. It’s quite popular in South Africa and in Europe. But the taste and flavor is so different from the lemongrass that you have over here. There’s so many things that Cambodians had to use through necessity, through tougher times, that they still sell and that we use in certain preparations. It’s through the produce that you’ll be able to promote Cambodia more than through the Beef Lok Lak.

Anna Mischke

But people come to Cambodia and get a bowl of soup for $2.50. That’s all well and good. You can. But you’re limiting people from being able to preserve, promote and establish themselves with Cambodian food. That’s the restaurant you go to where the mother and father sleep on a mattress behind the counter. There’s no air conditioning and there’s no lights. At best, their sons and daughters start working there at the age of 15 and 16. When you have staff that you’re trying to pay realistic salaries and when you’re trying to establish, create and build on something, it needs to be valued.

Writer, Blogger, Model Cambodia is eccentric in the sense that it draws so much of its influence from the surrounding region. Paris Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week have less impact to a local Cambodian than what is in the windows at Mango or what a Khmer celebrity is wearing at the latest whiskey event.

"'t’s through the produce that you’ll be able to promote Cambodia more than through the Beef Lok Lak."

 nick sells

Any of those restaurants along the riverside and any of those guys in the market they should be, realistically, charging at least $2 to $5 more per plate of food but they don’t. And then they go home and live in squalor. People come back from Phnom Penh and go "wow I had such an awesome time, the place was so great, the friendliest people". }

I feel that, ultimately, Cambodia’s own sense of fashion has a long, long way to go before it can really put itself on an international radar. Apart from a few local artists, the ma jority of fashion and beauty is pulled and recreated with no sense of redirection or artistic addition. There is a massive amount of change. Many talented

Model Cambodia is still developing and has a long way to go both socially and economically. This is also true for our arts and fashion scene. If Cambodia wants to leave a mark internationally, we need models and artists who aren’t afraid to innovate and be original. We need more diversity, more talented people, more fantasy. But there seems to be a disconnect between what an international model is expected to look like and what the Cambodian market is used to. Cambodians see beauty differently, which means that many Khmer girls aren’t even aware of their own potential and will not even think about modeling. That’s a shame. Don’t be afraid to be different, to stand out. I try to stay curious and open-minded, to embrace as many cultures as possible and to not take my freedom for granted. Cambodian women still face an uphill battle when it comes to gender equality. But it could be much worse. Slow and steady is the way. As Cambodia modernizes, more women will have access to higher education and reach more prominent positions in society.

independent designers are pushing their work into the industry and malls like Aeon are smashing into the region. But there still needs to be a sense of personal choice and implementation of what the wearer actually likes rather than simply flipping through a fashion magazine or seeing what a Khmer celebrity wears on local television. Cambodia still has its sights set, generally, on what and how things are being done by other people and mostly in the region. All you have to do is go into a local “high-end” boutique and you’ll only see brand name knockoffs. I’ve seen enough knockoff BOY London, Louis Vuitton, and Prada to last me a lifetime. }

Being outspoken and leading a modern lifestyle doesn’t mean I discard my origins. Khmer culture is on the verge of extinction, and it needs to be preserved and respected if we want it to survive. }

 florian wardell

Chef and Owner, The Common Tiger

Sothy Sith

 chatti brown/savady photography

Timothy Bruyns

“I've seen enough knockoff BOY London, Louis Vuitton, and Prada to last me a lifetime.”

î&#x20AC;&#x2020; jeremie montessuis/ film noir studio

Ryan Drewe Taylor & Brandon Lee Owners, The Dollhouse Salon, Paperdolls, Paperboy It was never our intention to change or influence the fashion scene in Cambodia. We are not fashion designers but by creating Glamazon we hope to change the idea of beauty through experimental fashion, hair and makeup. We strive to be unique and different from the mainstream. Therefore, most of our magazine shoots we choose not to take too much reference from Cambodia hoping our ideas are able to stand out from the rest. In 2011 we were the official hair and makeup sponsor for the first Cambodian Fashion Week where only established designers showcased their collections. Over the last two years, we have witnessed an explosion of very talented local designers such as Soknan, Galvano, Kelly & Skelley, Dr. Fashion by Chin F, Natacha Van and many others. We think the direction of the Cambodian fashion scene is going in a positive direction with young designers emerging while challenging themselves by being unique and international without losing touch of their culture and heritage. }

Among all the transformation, the topic of love has transcended time. From Sinn Si Samouth’s crooning voice in the 1960s to today’s dance-worthy Meas Soksophea, love songs have always topped the charts. But young Cambodian women are exploring love with a new perspective and challenging sexual taboos. We went to find out how they’re shaping public opinion and empowering the next generation of Khmer women.

Catherine v Harry

Blogger You’ve written about taboo topics for Cambodia. Your last post is about masturbation. What do you hope your readers get out of it? Since, I was young, sex has always been a fascinating topic to me. I started writing a blog simply because I want to break the taboo. I think young people should be informed and aware of this topic. Sex is the most basic thing in the world, yet people still refuse to talk about it. I think if my readers are aware of it, they can make informed decisions and understand the consequences better. As a teenager, I know that we can’t keep teens from having sex. That simply won’t work. The more we try to stop them, the more they will resist. It’s better to show them the path, let them make their own decisions and let them take responsibility for their choices. Besides, sex is a very interesting and daring topic. If anything, at least I hope my readers will learn some new facts from my blog. How have people responded? Thus far, many people have been very interested in the

"Some have warned me that I might be judged by men as being “sexual”, “experienced” or simply “bad”"

topics I write about. I haven’t received any particularly bad responses yet. However, I have been asked whether I’m afraid that others will condemn me for writing about such “inappropriate” and taboo subjects. Some have warned me that I might be judged by men as being “sexual”, “experienced” or simply “bad”. You’ve spoken up on women’s issues and feminism. Where do you think Cambodia is today on women’s rights? I think Cambodia, just like the rest of the world, has a long way to go regarding women’s rights. There are still stigmas attached to genders, and it’s very hard to break them. I’ve done a small survey for my school project and it seems like men are still viewed as breadwinners while women are still viewed as being vulnerable and, more or less, an object. I’ve also experienced harassment and catcalls on the streets in Phnom Penh. I know that it happens everywhere in the world, but that just shows the disrespect and inequality that women have to go through.

 courtesy of catherine v harry

heart of Cambodia

 courtesy of catherine v harry

DJ Buffy

As well, women in Cambodia tend to be judged more harshly on what they wear compared to men. That is another issue. I feel like I’m being confined in a box of what I should and shouldn’t do or wear. It’s as if a part of my freedom is being taken away from me. That being said, Cambodia has come a long way regarding equal rights. Women possess almost if not equal legal rights as men and that is a great thing.

Host, The Rock School Show on 97.5 LOVE FM When you hosted the love chat show, what stood out most for you? People would call in and give ideas about going on a date. That’s never happened before. You would often hear ‘I’m not going to do it until I get married.’ But now young people say they just kissed their date. I’m wowed. It’s happened. It’s not in a bad way if it feels good and you’re not shy about it and you’re old enough to do it. Why not? It’s a good feeling. It’s love. No one can stop that. People would start to complain that ‘you’re a woman you shouldn’t say that because you’re a Cambodian.’ I know I am. I have tattoos but it doesn’t mean I’m not a good woman. It’s just what I love. I have piercings. I go out. I drink. But just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean I can’t do it.

What needs to happen in Cambodia for women to see equal rights? I think it all starts with us. Having equal rights doesn’t just mean that women are treated equally in legal terms. It’s all about being treated equally in everyday life. Men and women need to learn to respect one another as well as respect the opposite sex. Women tend to put themselves down as well. We need to start realizing our rights as human beings. We have to teach our children to respect and treat other people how they want to be treated. This issue won’t change if we keep teaching kids that catcalling and disvaluing women are okay.

How do you attract people to listen to rock and local English artists? I’ve been doing the Rock School Show for 6 years. There are still people calling in requesting Bieber. So with rock music

"I feel like I’m being confined in a box of what I should and shouldn’t do or wear"

 julia white it is still very hard. It is changing but [the local English music scene] isn’t very big yet because big productions don’t want to support them. Khmer Pop music is still big. But Songkites helps those young talented Cambodians who can sing in both English and Khmer. The scene is mostly for expats and kids who know what’s going on and have traveled around the world. But if you go to people in the provinces with a concert of a [local new artist] they would not go. ‘I prefer Pop. I prefer local famous people to come and sing even if they’re terrible because at least I’ve seen them on television.’ }

Meas Soksophea Singer Cambodians still like love songs. There is only a certain percentage that like modern instrumental songs influenced by the west. Though, it’s starting to change slowly. But I believe dance songs will also change soon.

 nick sells

You’ve just begun your studies in the United States. What’s your first impression of the differences between American and Khmer cultures? I’m in a small town in Arkansas so people tend to be very nice – nicer than people in Phnom Penh. Strangers would smile at you and say hi when you’re walking around on campus. But in a way, I think people here are somehow as reserved as people back home. They’re Christian so topics like sex and homosexuality don’t ever get discussed. What has impressed me, however, is how systematic everything is – everything from campus facilities to orientation. Laws are also taken very seriously. America is somehow more uptight than Cambodia in some ways. }

"I have tattoos but it doesn’t mean I’m not a good woman"

Before you do anything you have to know yourself and that you are Kon Khmer (Cambodian kid). We have our own culture, music and language. So before I do anything I always ask myself if it is inappropriate or not? Can I accomplish this goal or not? Everywhere I go I have respect for people with a Khmer greeting. It’s my natural behaviour. I’m Kon Khmer and proud of it. }

TRANSGRESSION Cambodia’s identity has been predominantly ruled by tradition. For centuries, it has been the country’s moral compass. But in a society that is becoming more conscious of the bigger picture, the needle is shifting and the current frame no longer fits. Today, many are pushing the borders of what is moral and acceptable. In this photo series, we wanted to explore the idea of transgression in a country where social norms are becoming increasingly malleable.

cheky athiporn

I think it’s okay for everyone to break some rule because you will learn lessons from it and understand the consequences – both bad and good.

to be running wearing black platform heels, a black bra and a black hat. It symbolizes that she’s trying to run away from the rules and break the barriers to sexual expression.

This photo represents breaking the rules because it’s uncommon for a Cambodian model to appear in a bra in front of the camera. But in this photo the model appears

I would love to describe my style as a highend and editorial. I especially prefer black and white images.

mona simon no comment Transgression is a word and, like any other word, it’s a symbol for something that it describes or represents. Images are also a composition of symbolic elements talking to us through the grid of memories, accepted opinions, rules and moralities. This image shows an act that goes against a code of conduct – a child observing four [transgendered] young men sleeping on the floor in a small rented room outside Phnom Penh. As ladyboys, they work in the entertainment industry at night and have provocative lifestyles. This challenges the accepted rules of [Cambodian] society on many levels, provoking questions about reality which go beyond social norms and where personal freedom is often of little importance. Their personal freedom does not hurt or impact anyone in a negative way yet their way of life is not the norm and, therefore, sometimes perceived as unacceptable. As a documentary photographer my aim is not to be visible in the picture and not disturb the natural flow of reality or introduce my opinion to it. I try to compose each picture carefully in terms of forms, elements and colours to support the natural feeling at that moment allowing the viewer to appreciate its essence and stillness. I don’t use flash or other disruptive techniques . It’s just me and the camera in a moment which allows me to observe and capture someone else’s reality.

nick sells NO PISSING: The Urinator, Phnom Penh's regular transgressor What's your idea of transgression? It is using the streets as one big toilet. It’s anything illegal or beyond social norms. Why does this photo represent transgression to you? The Khmer text in the image translates to “no pissing”. The message is clear - and still they piss. This is a textbook caught in the act. How did you approach the theme? Discretely. I wanted something on the street, something we see regularly. I had a few ideas and this one seemed to fit best. How would you describe your style in this photo? It is a part street reporting and an orchestrated studio shot [staged photo].

Jeremie Montessuis Road Trip Trangression is [about] going against the rules which is a very important concept to be creative in art. This picture is transgressive for Cambodia, because it’s quite sexy and portrays a love triangle. An unconventional relationship is generally taboo. I had [originally] prepared a casual photo shoot with the concept of a biker’s road trip. [It would include] one female model and two male models [which I could use] for my portfolio. It wasn’t planned to be a shoot for the concept of transgression. But after the shoot I thought this image was a good match for the theme. My style here is based on a solid composition - a triangle for a love trio, So there is a match between the form or shapes and the concept. I shot in bright natural light and in color but converted the image to black and white to give it a timeless, elegant look and feel.

Lauren Crothers Transgression is an illegal act, defined by those in power. But lately in Cambodia, I feel like one man’s transgression is another man’s right to protest. [This photo] is definitely not an obvious representation of transgression, but then again, it’s been unclear lately exactly what is legal and illegal when it comes to protest and the assembly of people. These were the first Boeng Kak women to arrive at what would be a protest outside the World Bank last month. They were preparing to distribute lotus flowers among the protesters. I wasn’t sure these ladies would be able to proceed with their protest because crackdowns and the dispersal of even smaller groups have been carried out arbitrarily since the Ministry of Interior and City Hall banned gatherings a few months ago. I knew I wanted to approach the theme with a protest in mind but I specifically decided upon this picture because it is not as obvious. Seemingly innocuous acts like this sometimes bring out the helmeted boys in blue to break things up. Although they eventually showed up, the protest went ahead unimpeded. As much as I love faces, I sometimes like to just shoot from above. It’s a very sweet, natural act that is playing out below my camera and I wanted to hang back and not interrupt the scene.

sam jam Transcend your perception I couldn't think of submitting anything but this image for the concept of transgression. The theme has given me the opportunity to bring it to life. My sole intention of this image is to provoke the viewer to think about what they consider a transgression. Factors such as where a person is from, their belief system, their morals or their current outlook on life all affect what a person perceives as transgression. After seeing this image, I want the viewerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impression to be 'this guy looks like he's up to something'. Is he about to steal something, run away from someone, cheat on his girlfriend or take drugs? Perhaps he is simply going to buy milk for his daughter and wondering which convenient store is the closest. It's a narrative that plays in our heads depending on our perception, our past experiences and our judgements. For this reason I wanted the image to have a cinematic feel to encourage a mental dialogue.

venk Dignified Divine Rejection What's your idea of transgression? Getting drunk on a school night. Why does this artwork represent transgression to you? It attempts to disrupt the order of tradition. How did you approach the theme? Quite literally. The social implications of going beyond accepted codes of conduct in the Cambodian context. ** How would you describe your style in this artwork? Expressively liberal. Plus, I got some nice comments from drunk revellers as I was painting, which is always nice. That area (alongside ISPP) of the city is perfect for artistic intervention. Hopefully it will blossom into a go-to area for street art. ** Venkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ink and acrylic painting was pasted on an alley wall in the middle of the night for Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Up. }

society Roddy Fraser: This Scottish lad was a regular on the standup comedy circuit in the UK. Internationally, he’s appeared alongside David Cross from Arrested Development and Jeremy Hotz of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

: N O I T A S R E IN CONV  pierre rabotin  nick sells @ so shoot me studio Comedy is a distorted mirror reflecting the dark aspects of society. But it’s also a good sign of a health society that has the ability to laugh at itself. Across Cambodia, a smile and a laugh have always been the best way to settle differences and reach common ground. And though local comedy has been longstanding, the English comedy scene is rapidly growing. For the latest episode of “In Conversation” we gathered four talented comedians to discuss their favorite topics including the maddening traffic, masturbation and what’s it’s like to be the funny guy in Cambodia. What’s the comedy scene like in Cambodia? Dan Riley: Cambodia has had many years of local comedy. But English language comedy scene landed in early 2011. Sam Thomas: It’s part of the local wedding ritual to have comedians. Dan: Cambodia has its own style of comedy, it’s not the same as the west. Prum Manh has been doing comedy for more than 40 years. He’s a big star. Everyone knows him in Asia. It would be interesting to see if Cambodian comedians start to do some materials more like western political satire. Prum Manh tried that once and got called to a “meeting” and stopped after that. (laughs) Roddy Fraser: In comedy, your first show

is like losing your virginity, if it goes the wrong way it can put you off sex, especially if you are in prison. I had so many shit gigs in Britain, especially in London. Here in Cambodia it’s much better and a nurturing environment for a comedian. Sam Thomas: The community is such a melting pot. All different kinds of white people. Have you ever been heckled? Scotty Muldoon: My girlfriend tackled me once. Roddy: During sex? Sam: Next! Dan: The crowd can sometimes be a little bit prudish.

Dan Riley:

Funny People

Age: 32 Nationality: British Time performing comedy: One year as a performer; two and a half years as a promoter Time in Cambodia: Ten years Occupation: Journalist

Scotty Muldoon:

Roddy: I think these NGO people spend so much time being polite and correct, they secretly like to be repulsed. As barangs, do the cultural differences provide content? Roddy: Cambodia is a naturally funny place, just look at those people going down the street with those squeaky toys. pushing those carts. That’s incredibly funny. Scotty: It’s so easy to joke about the traffic. When you drive along you have so many near death collisions everyday. And because of the frequency you don’t even mention it when you go to work. Back in the UK, or even most countries, if you go to work and say to a colleague: “I was at

Name: Scott Davis aka Scotty Muldoon (yes, I have a stage name!) Nationality: British/Scouse Time performing comedy: 1.5 years, which is about 10 in dog years. Creator of Verbal High comedy www.verbal-high.com

Sam Thomas: He’s a young comedian from Boston who started his career in Phnom Penh with the Comedy Crash Course. He's been performing once a month in Cambodia and abroad since then.

society

a red light, and this car came in front of me and got in the place before me at the light” they go “what an absolute dick!” But if you come to work in Cambodia and you say to a colleague: “guess what happened to me, I nearly died. This motorbike came flying out the corner with a full family on it, and a dog and they were all texting and they ran into a truck” and he would be like “Booooring! [rolling his eyes]” Sam: The key is to find something everybody’s noticed but nobody explained it Comedians often talk about the fact that they’re single and masturbate a lot. How do you talk about that in Cambodia? Roddy: Your idea of stand-up comedians is basically true Roddy: you single Sam? Sam: I’m an eligible bachelor. I incidentally wrote a joke about masturbating. It’s fun to write about the dating scene, especially about dating Cambodian women. I wrote a joke once out of frustration because I would be out with a Cambodian woman and

everybody would assume she was a prostitute. But she wasn’t. I wrote a lot on how people react when you’re dating someone who doesn’t identify as white. Scotty: Did the frustration lead you to masturbation? Dan: In comedy there are some dangerous ground where you can easily be labeled. The amount of NGOs seems to be a topic as well: Dan: It really depends how you approach the topic. In that case you need to know what you’re talking about. You can laugh at the guy who is extremely well paid, driving a Lexus and owning massive villas or you can talk about the guy living here working in development. We can’t forget that the crowd coming to our shows are technically people working at NGOs. Roddy: The audience demographic is NGO workers, English teachers and sex offenders. If you’re lucky you get the full three.

Are there some topics you will never joke about? Roddy: I’m going to do some stuff about Khmer Rouge because everybody is talking about it. I live with people who went through the Khmer Rouge and you talk about it. You have to laugh about because it’s so horrific Dan: I do know that Khmers joke about rape and domestic violence. You can see that on tv. I saw this skit where there is a woman in a traditional wooden house, she’s stumbling around with a big jar of alcohol, drunk, covered in bruises from a fight with her husband. And it’s a comedy skit. That’s on tv today. That’s what they laugh about. Scotty: I know a couple of Khmer jokes that end with “and then he died”. } I The next Verbal High night will happen at Meta House on Friday 5 September, starting at 8pm. It's only $1 entry fee or free before 7.30.

T OF PLAYLISN TH O THE M

From the taunting sirens in KRS-One’s The Sound of da Police to the erotic moaning in Donna Summer’s Love to Love You Baby, music has always been a great platform for twisted minds and the most deranged personas to express their will for something different. Whether it’s through the lyrics or how they produced the song, they all have promoted transgression in their own way while stepping on a few moral, social or even musical rules. In order to embrace this state of rebellion, some of our regular DJ contributors infused an ultimate playlist about breaking the rules. Here’s their guide:

KIMCHI E V I T C E L L CO 1// Danny Boy & The Serious Party Gods 'Castro Boy' (Somewhat Normal Version) This early ‘80s gem is both a slam and homage to the San Francisco gay scene. Definitely a play on Moon Unit and Frank Zappa's Valley Girl, which was very popular at the time. It's amazing how many of the drugs mentioned in this song go by different names nowadays.

e c n e u q dj se

2// Africa HiTech - 'Out In The Streets' This one’s for the Freedom Park Crew. Power to the people.

1// Babylon - 'Splash' Pure Jungle pressure that set inner city London on fire in the mid 90s and still sounds fresh and relevant today. "Babylon shall fall!"

3// Santigold - 'Disparate Youth' (2 Bears Remix) A chirpy revolutionary anthem (“we know that we want more/a life worth fighting for”) that’s made ready for the dance floor by the excellent duo 2 Bears.

2// Sonic Youth - 'Teenage Riot' If the revolution is going to come, it’s going to come from the kids. This incendiary anthem from New York's Sonic Youth picks up the feeling perfectly.

4// Hudson Mohawke – 'Ooops!' One of our favourites from Hudson Mohawke’s brilliant series of bootlegs. His take on Tweet’s Oops (Oh My) is up there with the Divinyls I Touch Myself for celebrating self-love.

5// Crystal Castles - 'Crimewave' We chose this one cause it has the word crime in the title and we were too tired to think of something better. Plus, it’s a mega tune.

3// Dead Dred - 'Dred Bass' A bassline so wicked it should be locked up for crimes against normalcy and decency. It’s the sound of a million cars being broken into at once.

4// The Clash - 'Police and Thieves' A cover of Junior Murvin's sweet original, the Clash documented the frustration of black and white London youth fighting against a system that was actively trying to repress them.

5// Spiral Tribe - 'Breach the Peace/Forward the Revolution' Pioneers of the early ‘90s Free Party scene, Spiral Tribe were the victims of a sustained campaign of police intimidation. It led to their infamous trial forcing them out of the UK but not before they released these amazing tracks which still resonate today.

T OF PLAYLISN TH O THE M

the phatt controller

1// KRS-One: 'Sound of da Police' (Freq Nasty Mix) Do something bad in Phnom Penh and you'll hear the Sound of da Police… unless it's after 5 p.m.

2// The Prodigy - 'Warrior's Dance' (Future Funk Squad Rave Soldier Remix) On the theme of ' breaking the rules', I think this is the tune I once accidentally mixed into itself thinking it sounded great.

3// Deekline & Ed Solo - 'Bad Boyz' No doubt they play this at 'What's Up' management meetings.

4// Cut & Run - 'Darkside' The theme of many a night around town.

5// Peter Tosh - 'Legalize it' Wonder if Peter Tosh ever used the Cambodia excuse - 'it's legal if it’s in duck soup?'

Coming Soon... Cinema Paradiso THIS SEASON OF CINEMA PARADISO WILL FEATURE SOME OF THE WORK OF THE WORLD’S BEST-SELLING NOVELIST, SHORT STORY WRITER, AND PLAYWRIGHT AGATHA CHRISTIE.

dj SIMON C VENT

Don’t miss the first movie on, 1 October Witness for the Prosecution, 1957 Marlene Dietrich, Larry Marcus A short story by Agatha Christie

1// Britney Spears - 'Breathe on Me' (James Holden Remix) Underground minimal tech producer James Holden broke the rules by putting together a remix of bald crazy popstar Britney Spears' Breathe on Me in 2004

2// Donna Summer - 'Love to Love You Baby' The song was recorded in a studio with the lights off and the producer making her actually moan. It was pretty controversial back then and she is the definitely one of the all time queens of disco.

3// Ultramagnetic Mcs - 'Give The Drummer Some' It was sampled and [the controversial lyrics] used in The Prodigy’s Smack my Bitch Up which the U.S. National Organization of Women claimed was advocating violence against women. It was banned from radio before 9 p.m.

Raffles pool garden 7.00pm Admittance US$ 22 net per person , inclusive of a half bottle of wine and finger food/canapé treats Cinema Paradiso is also available for private screenings with a movie of your choice from just US$ 200 For more details, please call +855 23 981 888 or email, dining.leroyal@raffles.com

hypemaker events

HYPEMAKER

Em Riem Exhibition

What we’re excited about this september

Straight from Thailand

Phnom Penh Players

The children’s faces are often haunting and their black eyes hypnotic. That’s the work of Thai artist Aranya Khunchawattichai whose says the paintings are a reflections of the loneliness she felt at childhood. “When I look in the mirror, I often see different faces hidden in myself.” The collection is captivating and on display at Chinese House in mid-September And the work of another Thai artist, Padungphon Rincom, whose female figures represent the passage of time, is on display at Samai Distillery. “I think that women are our family and have to be bound,” said Rincom.

This month, The Plantation will feature Cambodian artist Em Riem’s exhibtion Hello-Sall y. The multitalented artist and fashion model, whose diverse body of work includes aluminum sculptures and rattan furniture, is making his foray into abstract with an explosion of colour. The Royal University of Fine Arts graduate received a scholarship in 2001 to study in Paris and has since riveted audiences with his black-and-white portrait series of the victims of Khmer Rouge.

KOFI MONIN CUP2014 If you’re looking for a little flair, check out Cambodia’s first ever bartending competition. Expect a lot of juggling and spinning bottles and shakers. And though the booze may go fl ying, the cocktails must still go down smooth. Bartenders with the best skills will take home a top prize of $1200. The winner of the MONIN CUP in Cambodia goes on to compete in Malaysia in the Asia Pacific Championship.

F5th-7th September and the Finale on 18th September

FFriday September 5th at 6pm @ the Lotus Pond Gallery of The Plantation

Age’s Exhibition—Thursday, September 11th @ Samai Distillery at 6:30 pm Aranya’s Exhibition—Friday, September 12th @ Tepui, Chinese House at 6:30 pm If you’re looking for a bit of theatre on a tennis court, look no further. The Phnom Penh Players are presenting Mixed Troubles on the Himawari court this month. The comedy centers around an awkward relationship between a former professional tennis player and a high school student. The hijinks begin when they find themselves embroiled in a high-stakes international match. Tickets are $10 and available at The Willow Boutique Hotel, Divine Pizza and Ribs and The Flicks 1. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to several charitable causes across Cambodia.

FSeptember

5th at 7:30pm and September 6th at 2:30pm and 7:30pm @ Himawari Tennis Court

A photography and video studio in the heart of Phnom Penh

SEPTEMBER AGENDA 5

Un-Boxed First Friday Poetry Slam @ Show Box

Delve into Phnom Penh’s Monthly feast of lyrical selfexpression. Featuring Poets from Cambodia and across the globe and hosted by Kosal Khiev. Come impart your lyrical blessing and take in free form creativity.

DJ Leonie (Thailand) @ Duplex club

A renown member of the Bullet Bwoyz Collective.

Bacano @ Equinox Bar

London has built a reputation as one of UK’s brightest and inspiringly unique vocal talents, releasing a string of critically acclaimed solo singles and EPs, as well as lending his skills to releases by a who’s who of British heavy weights, including Blak Twang, Rodney P and TY to name a few. His impressive track record has led to recording and performing with a slew of legendary international artists, from Junior Reid and Dawn Penn through to Wu-Tang Clan and KRS- One as well as participation in some extensive tours around the world, earning him a reputation for his humorous wit and refreshing originality both on-stage, in the studio and on camera.

12Konichiwa Bitches TFI Fridays: Japan-core Edition friday @ Show Box

Japanese themed TFI Friday in the Box. Drink and eat of our awesome specials, listen to the latest and greatest Japanese tunes and politely get pumped up in the style of the Rising Sun.

Creative Artist Night @ Equinox Bar

Four local performers displaying their unique talents: Lisa Concepcion, Sophie Rose, Sebastien Adnot and Kosal Khiev.

The Fumes @ Slur Bar

their mark by performing solid indie, punk, new wave, progressive, and eighties, nineties centered hits for people from all walks of life. Partaking in a Fumes show involves swimming in lush melodies from bands like: The Cult, The Charlatans UK, Soft Cell, The Pixies, Radiohead, The Kinks, Nirvana, The Killers, The Lemonheads, Jane’s Addiction, Rage Against the Machine, The Cure, and other like-minded bands from those eras.

THE TASTE OF A MAESTRO

25 Phnom Penh Designers Week

@ The Plantation

Autumn / Winter 2014 – Artistic Vision Brought to you by Fashion Lab magazine, the three day fashion show will again show the convergence and collaboration of the best of Phnom Penh’s fashion designers and other artists in the fashion industry. This soiree of glamour, tradition and creativity will definitely mark Phnom Penh on the national map.

26 DJ TECH 12

@ Duplex club

DJ TECH 12 drops to Duplex Club with his HIP-HOP bombs! Together with DJ ILLEST they will make you dance all night with the hottest tunes from New York to Cali!

7 The Piano Shop

Cambodia concert series

@ Meta House

Dance the night away to Latino rock rhythms.

MYSTRO (UK) & DJ DSK & Bree @code red

UK MC master, Hip Hop’s ultimate Maestro performs for one night with award winning DJ DSK and out very own DJ Bree – 9pm till late Mystro aka MysDiggi from

Meta House brings you classical chamber music from the 17th and 18th centuries. The compositions will be presented by flutist Anton Isselhardt, formerly of the German State Philharmonic Orchestra, Rheinland-Pfalz and the current country director with the Foundation for the Advancement of Western Classical Performing Arts. On cello will be Steven Rettalick who has traveled across South East Asia with Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. The performance begins at 8:00 p.m. on September 7th.

27 Sonic Detergent

@ Equinox Bar

Tight band playing Rock, Pop, & Punk- great for listening and dancing, come down and sing along with the band! New hit music plus awesome past hits.

The Fumes, Phnom Penh’s longest running alternative rock band, hail from at least five different countries and base themselves in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Bubbling out of this tropical cauldron of music, the Fumes have made

Phnom Penh Designers Week After party @ Code Red

Vision with Tim Coates, Jack Malipan & Nora The grand finale to Phnom Penh’s Designers Week with afterparty by Code Red’s Vision House masters. An audio visual Immersion Experience with House music all night long.

EXCLUSIVELY DISTRIBUTED BY

Phnom Penh Siem Reap Sihanouk, Kep & Kampot Battambang

(855) 23 986 350 (855) 63 964 409 (855) 34 934 155 (855) 53 953 855

Battambang-based artist Nicolas C. Grey has teamed up with frequent collaborator James Farley to tell the stories of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most (in)famous gurus.

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phnom penh delivery

phnom penh

Fire station 666 or 118 Ambulance 119 (from 023 phones) Police Hotline 117 (from 023 phones) ChildSafe Hotline 012 311 112 You can call the hotline 24 hours / 7 days a week if you see a child in a risk situation. Whenever possible they ask the caller to stay near the child until the team arrives to take appropriate action to protect the child.

Transparancy International Corruption Reportage Hotline 1292 (MOBITEL, METFONE,BEELINE, QB) 7777 (SMART and HELLO)

SIEM REAP

It seems you can get everything delivered to your door these days. Besides take-out, here’s what else you can ring for:

Tourist Police 012 402 424 Ambulance 063 761 119 Fire Station 012 784 464

CLOTHES: Don’t have time to hit the stores? Check out what’s in fashion via Facebook and wait for the moto driver to bring it your way. LITTLE FASHION, #192 Street 62 016 955 505

Sihanoukville

produce: You’re sick of eating out but can’t get to the grocery store. Here’s an option to get your veggies on: Khmer Farmer Garden, #14c, Street 444 012 638 371

chocolate: Forgot about your anniversary? Better ring for a box of chocolates. The Shop, #39 Street 240, 023 986 964

dvds: Down for a lazy night watching moves? Just order a DVD online and have the action come straight to you. DVD2DOOR http://www.dvd2door.com

Livfeer! Sa

Police 097 778 0008 Ambulance 081 886 666 Fire Station 016 606 342

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Battambang

Tourist Police 092 999 995 Fire Station 053 953 222

kampot

Tourist Police 097 778 0010

Ambulance 033 932 289

kep

Tourist Police 012 414 118

B Bouchon wine bar | wine shop