Interview
Young Cambodian Female Artist
Kanitha started to create artwork in 2007. Promoting gender equality, Freedom of Expression and a liberal society are some of the motivations for her to become a female artist.
Q: What inspired you to become an artist?
Kanitha: When I do my work, I want to get freedom which does not mean personal freedom but rather the freedom to express my opinion. Since I was young I don’t like someone to restrict my freedom of opinion. Through my artworks I can freely express my thoughts.
Q: What are your challenges in your career/life as a female artist in Cambodia?
Kanitha: As for me, I am having a bit more luck than other female artists because my family supports and encourages my decisions even though they are not clear about what I am doing. I am not creating art with a view to profit since I am supporting my living with other activities such as decorating and organizing events. So earning moeny out of is not an issue in my career as an artist.
Q: What do you think is the relationship between arts, politics and society?
Kanitha: Actually, my work is dealing with many issues in society and politics, but in the end it is just a reflection of reality and the viewers has to build their opinion and judge by themselves. What I want is that my achievements are recognized by other people. They are reflecting reality and should be perceived doing that.
Q: What inspired you to be involved with the HBF supported art exhibition: “Hey Sister… Where are you going?”?
Kanitha: At the exhibition with HBF, I will show an artwork stating that women have to be able to go away from the stove since old people say that women cannot do this. My aim is not to arraign what the old say but we need to accept that things change and today’s reality in Cambodia is completely different to that of the past. I want to show to other women that we have the same ability as others and should not look down on ourselves.
Chan Dina is one of the 11 Cambodian female artists who will join the exhibition which sponsored and organized by Heinrich Boll Foundation, Cambodia.
Dina has started her interest to artwork since she was 13 years old and in the following, there is an interview with her about the challenges in life as well as the inspiration related to her art career.
Q: What inspired you to become an artist?
Dina: I like painting and sculpture since I was young. I often went out with my relatives to collect some clay for designing kettles, pans, toys and other things. When I was 13 years old, I started learning artwork with a teacher from America. Until I was 17 years old, I have learned and understood a lot about art, including paintings, decoration, printing and also sculpture, and working on that made me very happy.
Q: What are your challenges in your career/life as a female artist in Cambodia?
Dina: It is sometimes hard to give the viewers an understanding of my works, as most of my productions are abstract and people might not get an approach to their meanings with just a glance. Beside this, it is difficult to find a lot of customers, so that at the moment I can only sell around 20 to 30 percent of my artworks. In addition, there are more foreign clients than Khmer people buying my products.
Q: What do you think is the relationship between arts, politics and society?
Dina: I think that the painters are able to express issues linked to the society like corruption, non corruption, war and peace. People can get a better understanding what has happened in the society through such works.
Q: What inspired you to be involved with the HBF supported art exhibition: “Hey Sister… Where are you going?”?
Dina: This exhibition is a great chance for Cambodian female artists to show their artwork in public. Many people still only recognize male artists, so it will be an opportunity for Cambodian women to express their talent through their work. Showing their products to various people, Cambodians as well as foreigners, this exhibition will further encourage Cambodian female artists.
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