Phnom Penh & Exhibition: Souvenir de Myope, the Blurred Landscapes of Memory according to ROMA

Plantation Phnom Penh is honoured to unveil Souvenir de Myope, the new solo exhibition by French-Italian painter and sculptor ROMA (Romain Garzonio). Comprising 21 contemporary works — 17 abstract paintings and 4 sculptures —, this exhibition invites visitors to explore memory, perception and emotion through the softened filter of myopia.

Drawing on his own experience of short-sightedness, ROMA opens the door to a subdued universe, where sharp details give way to depth of feeling. Here, it is not so much a question of representing the visible as of evoking the unforgettable, the emotional.

 The result? A poetic and instinctive work that speaks to the unconscious through fragmented forms, diffuse colours and textured surfaces. Based in Phnom Penh for over seven years, ROMA's art is nourished by an intimate connection with Cambodia, its places and its inner landscapes forged over time.

 A former construction worker turned full-time artist, he transposes the manual skills he has acquired throughout his life into his creative practice. Born during the global pandemic, his sculptures—the result of a personal healing process—extend this same language of abstraction into three-dimensional space.

‘ROMA has developed an intimate and instantly recognisable style,’ says Alexander Scheible, managing director of Plantation. "His ability to translate inner landscapes into visual forms is both subtle and powerful. It is a privilege to host this exhibition: we follow his work with admiration, and several of his works are already part of our permanent collection. At Plantation, we believe that art should be experienced, not just looked at."

Plantation has always been committed to supporting the Cambodian art scene, with a programme that celebrates the diversity of local and international talent and the plurality of visual languages. Souvenir de Myope marks a new milestone in this creative dialogue.

‘My paintings and sculptures are like emotional memories,’ says ROMA. ‘They don't seek to capture a specific place or moment, but to convey what I felt — filtered through memory and instinct.’

‘My practice reflects the way I perceive the world: through intuition rather than precision,’ he continues. Myopia has taught me to embrace blurriness and to give up on sharp contours. It is in this zone of uncertainty that I find truth and emotion."

Souvenir de Myope is an immersive exhibition, designed as a visual meditation, which can be explored freely every day from 1 August to 7 September 2025. The public is warmly invited to come and lose themselves in it at their own pace.