Exhibition: HIGHLANDS by Chhim Sothy — a Captivating Exploration of Northern Cambodia’s Ethnic Communities
- Jean-Michel Filippi
- Oct 31
- 3 min read
The Gallerist team is pleased to present the latest exhibition by contemporary artist Chhim Sothy, HIGHLANDS — a captivating exploration of the ethnic communities of Northern Cambodia. Through this collection, the artist offers a unique perspective on the traditions, daily life, and spiritual connections of the highland minorities.
About the Exhibition
Chhim Sothy’s compositions are familiar to us. From the outset, he appears as the bard of a traditional world where royal epics (notably the inevitable Ramayana), celestial dancers, and court life in a classical Cambodia intermingle, with the artist depicting gestures and magnificent adornments from this era.
Chhim Sothy’s work thus seems rooted in a vision of Cambodian civilization, both Hinduized and Buddhist, that flourished around the great lake and along the lower Mekong River.
Yet, this Cambodia also possesses an “elsewhere,” another world summed up by the term “highlands.” It is a realm where tribal life endures, separated from the civilizations that have shaped Indochina.
These are populations often stigmatized by the region’s majority groups, illustrated by the term “Phnong,” which, beyond referring to the main ethnic group of Mondulkiri, translates as “savage.”
It is precisely this “wildness” that interests our artist. This does not mean the “noble” or “vicious” savage of popular imagery. Here, “wildness” refers to the absence of modernity, the village as the main setting, the worship of local deities, slash-and-burn agriculture (rather than irrigated rice fields), using a totem animal to symbolize lineage or clan, and animal sacrifices.
There is no need to continue the enumeration, as Chhim Sothy’s canvases offer an even more compelling vision.
In these compositions, humans are never depicted alone, but rather integrated into a natural setting adjacent to striking animal representations. Wild or domesticated animals appear alongside their totemic portrayals, emphasizing a view of existence in which the sacred and the profane intertwine.
Crossbow hunting, gathering fruits and tubers, are no longer standalone activities but part of a larger whole wherein the sacred ultimately prevails.
The essential activity of pounding rice is shown with two female figures around a mortar, surrounded by all the elements that sanctify their action: totemic animals, jars, baskets, symbolic drawings.
Sacrificial activities are present, featuring rice alcohol jars and the indispensable gongs for buffalo sacrifice, which are central to both the composition and life in the highlands.
Since the 1980s, the concept of visual anthropology has been in vogue: essentially, how to portray traditions and lifestyles through images—photography or film—while eschewing the linearity of traditional writing.
With a focus that avoids heaviness and didacticism, Chhim Sothy introduces a visual anthropology of a way of life, combining its holistic and elusive dimensions in a brilliant synthesis.
Chhim Sothy — Biography
Chhim Sothy is a leading contemporary Cambodian artist, renowned for his distinctive fusion of traditional Khmer themes with modern artistic techniques. His work encompasses painting, sculpture, and mixed media arts. Sothy is widely celebrated for contributing to the revival and modernization of Cambodian art.
Born in 1969 in Kandal province, he graduated from the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh (RUFA) in 1996. In 1997, he spent a year in Siem Reap at the Chantiers-Écoles, a vocational training center founded in 1992 to preserve and transmit Khmer cultural heritage. He currently serves as an advisor to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and teaches at RUFA.
Sothy’s art is a fascinating blend of traditional Cambodian motifs and painting techniques reminiscent of European modern art. His work provides a poignant commentary on the cultural transformations shaping Phnom Penh from the post-Khmer Rouge era to the present day.
His creations often explore Buddhist philosophy, Cambodian mythology, and spiritual symbolism. Recurring subjects include the Buddha, apsaras (celestial dancers), and scenes from the Reamker (the Cambodian version of the Ramayana). He incorporates classic Khmer decorative elements—intricate motifs, temple sculptures, and ancient iconography—reimagined in a contemporary context.
Sothy mixes abstract elements with figurative representations, allowing viewers to interact with both emotional and narrative dimensions of his work. His paintings are noted for their rich, saturated colors—gold, red, and blue—deeply symbolic in Cambodian culture, reinforcing the spiritual and mystical atmosphere that permeates his creations.
The opening night, with the artist in attendance, will take place on November 11, 2025, from 6 pm onward. You are invited to meet the artist and, through his works, travel into the heart of Cambodia.
Text by Jean Michel Filippi
The Gallerist team
Address: #15/17 Street 240 (corner of Street 19)
The Gallerist team
Address: #15/17 Street 240 (corner Street 19)
Playing online games has become easier with Sikkim Game Download Apk. It gives quick access to results and data that help you make informed predictions. A must-try for online gamers who prefer speed and accuracy.