• Society

Inner Peace Found in Art History 

• By Rin Ousa
• January 26, 2024 3:10 PM

PHNOM PENH – Yean Reaksmey, founder of the contemporary art space Silapak Trotchaek Pneik, discovers inner peace through beauty in the history of art. 

“Regardless of how many universities and colleges I have been attending, I do not consider them as my achievements,” Reaksmey said.

“New things that I can see every day in the history of art is my inner peace, that’s how I define what achievement is.” 

Born in Battambang province, Reaksmey received his early education in Phare Ponleu Selpak, a multidisciplinary school in the province which enables students to make a living in art. 

Being taught since childhood about dance, music, theater (lakhon) and painting, Reaksmey later found out he had no interest or any talent in becoming an artist. 

However, his interest in art never vanished. Reaksmey strived to discover his own passion as he loves art and reading. 

“When it comes to history of art, contemporary art and modern art, there are not many schools in our country specializing in these subjects. I see the gaps here, and I wish to fill those gaps one day,” he said. 

“By wishing to see the world in the broadest possible and unique ways from others, I want to deepen my understanding of the history of art, modern art and especially contemporary art. 

“With no bachelor’s degree certificate in my hand, I put all my efforts into pursue masters degrees in art abroad,” he said. 

Reaksmey holds an Alphawood scholarship from the University of London's SOAS program for postgraduate diploma in Asian art, specifically in Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Indian art. 

He was an exchange student at Chiang Mai University's Institute of Southeast Asian Affairs. He received the Dr. Karen Mcleod Adair grant for an MA in Asian Art Histories at LASALLE College of the Arts. 

In addition, he was an inaugural SEAsia Award Scholar of LASALLE College of the Arts in 2017 and an Asian Cultural Council fellow in 2018 in Singapore. 

More than just an art space

Reaksmey said Silapak Trotchaek Pneik (STP) was established on February 17, 2020, with its mission to become the largest contemporary art space in Cambodia within five years. 

Despite many economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, Reaksmey keeps striving for his mission. 

This space enables local artists to exhibit their works in public. 

Reaksmey said all the artworks are carefully selected and considered before they are displayed to appeal to art lovers. 

Besides displaying artworks, Reaksmey makes use of this art space to a feasible extent. 

“To adorn the art space, the wall colors are changed according to the theme,” he said.

“If the art space is free, the public can gather here for their group study yet with some restrictions to be followed. 

“Outside the art space, the public can spend their spare time reading books in our library. Most of the books are related to history of arts and history of contemporary arts,” he said. 

About two to three groups visit the art space during weekdays, with more at weekends. 

Reaksmey is delighted to see his university students eager to know more about his art space. 

The gallery's name comes from the combination of the Khmer word “silapak”  meaning art and "trotchaek pneik" meaning cool eye. To put it simply, the name means beautiful art or art that pleases the eyes. 

 Besides being a founder of this art space, Reaksmey is also a part-time lecturer at Phnom Penh University of the Arts and CamTECH University. Photo by Bun Chan

Anticipation of art center available for the public 

Besides being a founder of this art space, Reaksmey is also a part-time lecturer at Phnom Penh University of the Arts and CamTECH University.  

“When I first taught history of art in one university class, students were not aware of what the history of art was. Two to three months later, they started to have a basic understanding of it,” Reaksmey said. 

“However, my class is not an exciting class for them, it lasts only one session per week. Thus, it is hard to inject the knowledge of art to the students immediately. 

To raise public awareness on contemporary arts, Reaksmey intends to see a public art forum which gathers all contemporary art advocates and scholars to have a further discussion on these topics. 

“I hope to see the establishment of an art center which in the meantime can be a museum, gallery, cinema theater,” he said. 

He said to inject the public into conversations on contemporary arts, an art center should be created which enables them to deepen their understanding of arts. 

Silapak Trotchaek Pneik is closed temporarily for maintenance. The date of its reopening is Feb. 2.