Exhibition “Golden Earth”

Exhibition Details

  • Artists: Mr. Leang Seckon, Renowned contemporary artist
  • Venue: National Museum of Cambodia
  • Exhibition Dates: 12 January – March 11, 2025

Curatorial Statement

The entire Earth in space resembles a tiny speck of dust floating in the void. In Cambodia, the life of artists like myself is also a part of this. Wonder, excitement, fear, sadness, loss, birth, success, war, etc., are all experiences of the earth.

The Khmer people have settled on the ancient sea floor shaped like a kettle, where the Mekong River brings freshwater into the Tonle Sap Lake every year. I see this as a natural (churning of the ocean of milk) enclosure that has brought forth the rich and fertile land of gold and the glorious Angkor civilization. The Indochina war pushed Cambodia into a fiery abyss, resulting in nearly two million people losing their lives in a reign of terror. The regime fell on January 7, 1979.

At that time, I was nine years old, with nothing left—devastation and loss surrounded us. We would walk and gather grains of rice, one by one, from fields damaged by repetitive flooding, with remnants scattered on the golden land washed by the rains. The rice sprouts flourished in the fields, resembling
grains of gold that nurtured our lives.

Recognizing our right to choose our fate, led to the United Nations (UN) organizing the elections in 1993. Cambodia has since had a royal government aimed at rebuilding and developing the country towards progress, enhancing standards of living, linking national and international relations, and elevating the values of national arts and culture in line with the advancements of modern technology.

The golden land that I have trampled on is my homeland, with the legacy and souls of my ancestors, imbued with grandeur and influence. Even though many Khmer artefacts have been lost to other countries, they are still drawn back to this golden land, allowing those treasures to return home.

Villages, rice fields, rivers, lakes, rolling hills, forests, islands, and sea coasts—the wealth above and below ground, in water— are all constituents of the golden land of the Khmer, continuously providing
life through generations.

Biography

Born in Prey Veng province, Cambodia in 1970, artist Leang Seckon is among the foremost members of the emerging Cambodian contemporary art scene. Having grown up during the rise of the Khmer Rouge regime and American bombings of Indochina in the early 1970s, he later graduated from the Royal University of Fine Arts, Phnom Penh in 2002.

His deeply autobiographical artistic practice blends personal experiences with pop culture references and socio-political commentary. His work has been exhibited extensively internationally, including notable shows at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (2024), Akar Prakar in New Delhi (2023), and documenta fifteen in Germany (2022). His installations have also been featured at prestigious venues such as the Queensland Art Gallery, the National Museum of Cambodia, and the Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale.

Seckon has completed several significant residencies, including programs at the Bronx Museum of Arts (2013) and Fukuoka Asian Art Museum (2009). His public art initiatives, such as the Rubbish Project (2008) in Phnom Penh, demonstrate his commitment to engaging with local communities. The artist continues to live and work in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he maintains an active studio practice.

Featured Gallery Highlights

Through his 18 paintings, Seckon masterfully captures Cambodia’s journey—from the ancient grandeur of the Khmer civilization through the devastating period of loss to the resilience and rebirth of our nation. His art reflects our profound connection to our “Golden Earth,” nurturing life across generations. The exhibition celebrates our cultural heritage while embracing contemporary society, embodying Cambodia’s ongoing journey of rebuilding and renewal. Below are some highlight paintings from the full collection of 18 paintings.