Phnom Penh & Exposition: Koem Keo Socheat and the White Collection in Phnom Penh

Plantation Urban Resort & Spa is currently presenting the White Collection, accompanied by a selection of works by Koem Keo Socheat, a young emerging artist originally from Kampot province.

Representative member of the new generation of contemporary Cambodian artists, Socheat embodies the renewed vitality and creativity of a country undergoing a full artistic renaissance

Graduated from the Université royale des beaux-arts de Phnom Penh (RUFA), Koem Keo Socheat combines tradition and innovation in an artistic work that blends painting, drawing, and textiles. Her journey, deeply rooted in Khmer cultural roots, leads her to explore major themes of philosophy, religion, and daily life with a unique sensitivity. For her, art comes first; her works are primarily driven by thought and feeling rather than commercial considerations.

The White Collection, at the heart of this exhibition, evokes purity, reflection, and a tangible link between past, present, and future. This series, distinguished by the predominant use of white, is not just an aesthetic choice but a true symbolic language.

By opting for this stripped-down palette, Socheat eliminates chromatic distractions to highlight the complex details and narrative subtleties of her works. Through this collection, she aspires to make visitors feel the cultural and spiritual continuities that weave the fabric of contemporary Cambodian identity.

The exhibition runs until December 14, 2025, in Phnom Penh at Plantation Urban Resort & Spa, a place established as a key center for promoting local contemporary arts. This hotel, open since 2011, offers a serene setting where art meets inherited architecture and lush nature, between tropical gardens and a lotus pond. Plantation’s commitment to the local art scene is also part of a social responsibility approach, with regular support to the Université royale des beaux-arts and young talents through exhibitions, workshops, and charity sales.

Although young in the professional art world, Koem Keo Socheat has already attracted attention with her singular and engaged visual language. Her past exhibitions, notably Eyes of Mercy (2019), Why do I…? (2020), and the first series White (2022), courageously and gracefully explored deep themes such as collective memory, gender equality in Cambodian society, and intergenerational transmission.

These works, often made on white canvas with pencil drawings, encourage meditation on culture, tradition, and universal human emotions.

As an art critic points out, Socheat "is not a commercial artist – her work focuses on ideas, culture, and emotion. She wants the viewer to understand her art, not just look at it."

Her creative process is both reflective and experimental. In addition to painting, she incorporates textiles in some of her works, thus forging a dialogue between ancestral materiality and contemporary expression. Moreover, Socheat is part of a dynamic network of contemporary Cambodian artists engaged in redefining the contours of Khmer art, often marked by a successful synthesis between cultural heritage and current issues.

One of her recent series, Acharphay, addresses Cambodian spirituality, blending sculpture and visual storytelling to invite the audience to meditate on the complexity of cultural roots and their impact today.

Beyond her individual works, Koem Keo Socheat actively participates in the artistic community. Her exhibitions have taken place in private galleries in Phnom Penh, notably in discreet yet influential cultural spaces like Street 240, a true artistic corridor of the capital gathering galleries, bookstores, and cultural expression venues.

The public is thus invited to go beyond the visual surface, to take time for inner reflection, guided by works that reveal our shared humanity. The exhibition is open until December 14, 2025, a not-to-be-missed occasion for art lovers and those who want to understand the evolving face of Cambodian creation today.