The SOSORO Museum's new temporary exhibition brings the murals in the sanctuary of the Silver Pagoda back to life

The National Bank of Cambodia's Preah Srey Içanavarman Museum of Economy and Currency (SOSORO) is pleased to announce the opening of its new temporary exhibition entitled Into the Light: The Retrieved Paintings of Phnom Penh's Silver Pagoda.

The exhibition was inaugurated on 4 October at a ceremony presided over by Her Excellency Dr Chea Serey, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, in the presence of members of the royal family, senior government officials, diplomats and representatives of cultural, educational and economic circles.

Thanks to the expertise of Professor Olivier de Bernon of the Ecole française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO), the exhibition's scientific curator, this ground-breaking presentation reveals the remarkable rediscovery of wall paintings thought to have been lost forever, restoring a chapter of Cambodia's artistic and spiritual heritage.

For decades, the wall paintings in the sanctuary of the Silver Pagoda, created in the early 20th century, were thought to have disappeared as a result of the unrest that followed the restoration work undertaken in the 1960s.

But recent analysis of fragile photographs on glass plates has revealed striking evidence of these extraordinary works, offering a unique opportunity to reconnect with a masterpiece of Khmer art and Buddhist devotion. Her Royal Highness Princess NORODOM Marie, who had kept these precious glass plates, was generous enough to allow the SOSORO Museum to use them for the exhibition.

This exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the history of the Silver Pagoda, from the disappearance of the murals to their rediscovery. It explores the inspiration for the frescoes in Buddhist scriptures and Khmer traditions, the circumstances surrounding their disappearance, and the role of photography in preserving their memory. Visitors will be able to discover scenes from the jātaka - accounts of the Buddha's previous lives - alongside original artefacts, historical testimonies and rare manuscripts that shed light on their cultural and religious significance.

An interactive experience also allows the public to project copies of the original glass plates, offering an immersive approach to exploring the details of the frescoes and appreciating the remarkable precision of early photography. A booklet specially designed for young people accompanies the exhibition, to guide children and schoolchildren in discovering its stories and themes in a fun way.

Practical information :

• Title: Into the Light: The Retrieved Paintings of Phnom Penh's Silver Pagoda

• Venue: SOSORO Museum, entrance via Rue 102

• Opening date: 4 October 2025

• Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm

• Admission: free

• Duration: 5 months

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About the SOSORO Museum

Established by the National Bank of Cambodia, the Museum of Economics and Currency Preah Srey Içanavarman (commonly known as SOSORO) aims to raise public awareness of Cambodia's economic history and the evolution of currency, through a clever blend of ancient artefacts and modern technologies, in a state-of-the-art museography.

Since its opening, the SOSORO Museum has welcomed more than 150,000 visitors - half of whom are students or children - organised numerous temporary exhibitions, conferences and events, and received Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Award.