Khvay Samnang's exhibition in Phnom Penh: A fable between nature, culture and memory

Khvay Samnang's latest solo exhibition, Forest Myth, on show from 2 October to 5 December 2025 at SNA Arts Management in Phnom Penh, sheds a singular light on Cambodia's contemporary art scene.

This exhibition is much more than a simple visual illustration; it is the powerful and symbolic reflection of an intimate quest around the forest, the mirror-place of a rich culture and an essential dialogue with the environment and time.

A contemporary fable, the common thread running through the exhibition

At the heart of Forest Myth is an original fable written by the artist himself, giving a narrative dimension to all his works. The story is about a mythical tree, called the “True Tree”, whose fruit is said to offer immortality. It is the poignant journey of a group of young boys who, driven by hope and desire, search for this tree through the difficulties of a fiery path, symbolising humanity's gruelling struggle with nature and its own beliefs.

The fable is stripped down to its simplest form, with the fall of this tree in the face of a storm, then the rebirth of an entire forest thanks to its scattered seeds, evoking a major symbolic force. This rebirth represents resilience, renewal and the continuity of life despite hardship. In this reading, the forest is presented not just as a natural space, but as a sacred place of memory, coexistence and hope.

A multifaceted body of work in a variety of media

Khvay Samnang does not limit himself to a single medium. His artistic approach, fuelled by a deep engagement with local communities and ongoing research into Cambodia's social and ecological issues, integrates sculptures, immersive installations and a single-channel video. These combined media plunge visitors into a sensory and intellectual experience, where each piece is in dialogue with the fable, unfolding the multiple possible readings of the forest - mythical, political, ecological or cultural.

The materials used range from the natural (wood, earth, plant fibres) to the industrial, highlighting the relationship between raw nature and the human footprint, as well as the tensions and harmonies between these two worlds. In this way, the artist introduces a reflection on the ecological and social impact of a Cambodia in the throes of change, while revisiting ancient stories and traditions, sometimes with a subtle humour that thwarts expectations.

The artist behind the legend

Born in 1982 in Svay Rieng province, Khvay Samnang graduated from the prestigious Phnom Penh School of Fine Arts. His international career already spans several major exhibitions around the world, from Paris to Munich, Tokyo, Glasgow and Venice, testifying to his growing recognition on the global art scene. Yet it is in direct encounters with Cambodian communities and the appropriation of cultural and historical rituals that his work draws its energy and humanity.

Khvay Samnang

For many years, Khvay Samnang has been exploring the multiple facets of our collective heritage, contemporary challenges and the place of man in his environment. His approach, which blends symbolism, poetic gestures and socio-political commitment, offers a rich, complex body of work that is never unambiguous but always accessible, inviting reflection and emotion.

SNA Arts Management: a springboard for Cambodian art

SNA Arts Management, the first Phnom Penh-based agency dedicated to contemporary Cambodian artists, is providing a valuable showcase for this exhibition. SNA acts as a bridge between local creators and the international public, offering professional support, strategic advice and exhibition space to ensure the visibility and sustainability of visual creation in Cambodia.

SNA is part of a wider mission to promote Cambodia's cultural wealth through its artistic talents, and the collaboration with Khvay Samnang, a major figure on the contemporary scene, is a perfect illustration of this dynamic.

An invitation to contemplation and awareness

Forest Myth cannot be reduced to a simple aesthetic display. The exhibition raises fundamental questions about the relationship between man and nature, collective memory and the spiritual dimension of living things. It questions the forces that shape our landscape - physical, cultural and political - and invites visitors to immerse themselves in a narrative that is also that of a country, a people and an era.

This exhibition is an invitation to deep contemplation, a recognition of the cycles of death and life, but also an awareness of the current issues affecting the environment and the coexistence between human beings and their natural surroundings.

Khvay Samnang's Forest Myth is a work that is both universal and intimately rooted in contemporary Cambodia. A work that blends art, legend and ecological sensitivity, and that everyone can discover in Phnom Penh until 5 December 2025. An experience not to be missed by art lovers, the curious and all those who wish to reflect on the future of our world from the deep roots of the forest and culture.

More photos here...

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SNA Arts Management : #16, street BT (Borey Sambath Mean Heng 3), Phum Tangov Kandal, Sangkat Niroth, Khan Chbar Ampoeu, Phnom Penh, Cambodia