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 completed his graduation in 2002 from the Royal University of Fine Arts, Phnom Penh. Among the foremost members of the emerging Cambodian contemporary art scene, Leang Seckon grew up during the rise of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in the early 1970s at the onset of the American bombings of Indochina.

His artistic practice hasbeen deeply autobiographical, influenced by his personal journey. Seckon often juxtaposes pop culture references and social and political commentary with personal accounts of his formative years. His selected solo and group exhibitions internationally include:

The Angkor Complex, University of Michigan Museum of Art, Michigan, USA (2024); The Weight of Freedom at Akar Prakar, New Delhi (2023); documenta fifteen, with Sa Sa Art Projects, Kassel, Germany (2022); Leang Seckon Prophecy, Macnichols Civic Center, Denver, USA (2019); Out of Line at Akar Prakar, Delhi (2019); Rebirth Revitalise Regeneration, National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2017); Kathmandu International Art Festival, Nepal (2012) and Hell on Earth, Rossi & Rossi, London, UK (2014); 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT8) held at Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, Australia in (2015); 4th Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale in Japan in (2009); and his Rubbish Project (2008) a public project in Phnom Penh. He is the recipient of numerous awards and residencies such as the ArtVarta Residency in collaboration with Khoj Artists’ Association, 2023; Residency at Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York, 2013; Residency at Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Fukuoka, Japan, 2009. The artist lives and works in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Highlight Gallery

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.