In pictures & Culture : Le Royal celebrate Im Pesey, a unique artistic and gastronomic journey

Monday evening, the restaurant Le Royal of the emblematic Raffles Hotel hosted the opening of the exhibition: « A Journey with Im Pesey », a solo exhibition by the Cambodian painter Im Pesey, curated by the gallery The Gallerist with the collaboration of Recreation.

Im Pesey, Memory on the Edge of the Canvas

Born in 1991 in the province of Prey Veng, Im Pesey has established himself as a major figure of the contemporary Cambodian artistic scene. From childhood, he was captivated by the mural frescoes of temples, which led him to study at the Université Royale des Beaux-Arts, then to complete his training at the Yamada Art School and the Académie Royale du Cambodge.

His works, recognizable by their delicate pastels and subtle harmony, invite gentle introspection.

Im Pesey develops a pictorial language where each canvas evokes the serenity of daily life, the passage of time, and nostalgia for memories. His style, made of soft colors and light brush strokes, oscillates between tradition and modernity, questions collective and personal memory, while celebrating Khmer culture. The lively scenes of Phnom Penh, such as the one visible in the center of the exhibition, transport the public into a serene universe, far from urban noise.

An Evening Marked by Conviviality and Excellence

During the evening, guests were able to talk with the artist and immerse themselves in the perspectives he proposes on memory and emotion in creation.

To mark this opening, Dagmar Lyons, general director of the Raffles Hotel, personally met with art enthusiasts, renewing the historical support of the establishment for the cultural influence of Cambodia and the local artistic scene.

Art and Gastronomy in Fusion

This opening was also an opportunity for Le Royal to present in preview its new menu, a creation inspired by Khmer modernity. The guests let themselves be seduced by the inventive marriage of local flavors: Kampot crab salad, sour fish soup, honey-roasted duck, and salmon Wellington revisited in Khmer style, not forgetting the exotic dessert with mango and coconut.

Art as a Memorial Link

Julie Thai, representing The Gallerist, opened the evening with a warm and committed speech. “Art connects peoples, transcends borders,” she emphasized, inviting everyone to embark alongside Im Pesey on an intimate journey where emotion remains despite the flight of time. She recalled that this partnership between The Gallerist and the Raffles Hotel aimed to offer the public a unique experience: to rejuvenate, contemplate, and let resonate the importance of creativity within Cambodian society.

In her speech, Julie Thai insisted on the fundamental role of such exhibitions:

“We believe that art should not only be seen but felt, that every exhibition is an invitation to a new look at the world.”

The Artist, Memory Bearer and Creator of Emotion

The series inaugurated that evening — with its traditional musicians and scenes of daily life — illustrates the deep bond Im Pesey maintains with his native land and his people. His art transcends temporalities: it is living memory, a source of peace and harmony, and carries within it a philosophy of care and intercultural dialogue.

Im Pesey proposes, with each canvas, a meditation on the passage of time and the permanence of emotion. Like albums of memories, his paintings invite daydreaming. His palette, gentle and enveloping, creates an atmosphere where nostalgia rhymes with fulfillment, like the musical score he unfolds on the canvas.

An Event Not to Be Missed

The exhibition « A Journey with Im Pesey » will be open to the public until January 17, 2027, at the restaurant Le Royal. The team of the Raffles Hotel thus invites all art lovers to take the time to discover this journey rich in meaning and flavors, where the Cambodian imagination reveals itself in all its subtlety.

See all photographs of the opening here