Above: float vendors. Varying in size and design, each one has a candle and some incense. For 2000 riel (50 cents) one could be yours.
Loy Pratip celebration follows the boat races of Water Festival. In Siem Reap it takes place right in the center of town, at the river which winds through it. This was the biggest I’ve seen it yet.
Here people walk down to the river with their lighted float and send it off (with the enthusiastic help of some swimming kids) to appease spirits. This is one of my favorite Khmer ceremonies, and feels a touch more animist than Buddhist.
Above: one last float joins the current.
Tags:festival,cambodia,khmer
Posted in animism, buddhism, photography | 1 Comment »
An opening at the McDermott gallery in Siem Reap, for the Angkor Photo Festival. This is the first time I’ve seen it in action, though I’ve seen the photos from prior years on the web.
I’m intrigued at how this festival has networked people from around the world. I can’t help but think life would be a lot harder for the assemblage if it wasn’t for Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angkorphotographyfestival
I’m not a photo wonk, but I will say there that there were a LOT of photos. So much that there was indeed ‘something for everyone’.
(Above – McDermott Gallery) It’s great that the Festival included a commercial workshop for aspiring Cambodian photographers. Not every workshop student will become a photographer, but they should have the opportunity – and training – to grab the brass ring if they should so choose.
(Above: a crowd gathers for a screening of images, in the alley behind pub street.)
This year, the enthusiasm of local & international artists seems to have reached some kind of critical mass; I think it’s only going to get better from here on out.
(Below – award ceremony, Hotel de la Paix.)
There are still photos to be seen, check the festival web site; it’s on until November 28th.
http://www.angkorphotofestival.com
Tags:photography,angkorphotofestival2007,exposition,exhibition,cambodia,khmer
Posted in information technology, news, photography, tourism, visual art, weblogs | No Comments »
By sheer coincidence, Take Back the Tech and the 3rd Mekong Performing Arts Laboratory are starting on the same day, addressing gender-related violence via the web and drama, respectively. And we have the races of Water Festival concluding with Loy Pratip in Phnom Penh!
Meanwhile, in Siem Reap, the Angkor Photo Festival continues with an opening at Hotel de la Paix.
(Busy times! I’ll do my best to keep you posted on what I see from where I’m at.)
Tags:theatre,takebackthetech,HIV,exposition,exhibition,cambodia,khmer
Posted in environment, information technology, more stuff, news, theatre | 1 Comment »
And what brings all these people to the National Library?
Not one but two exhibitions assembled by VALEASE, one of archaeological records from EFEO;
and the other of contemporary comic art, from Sera‘s earlier workshops.
more: Project [Re] generation
Tags:comic,exposition,exhibition,cambodia,khmer
Posted in comics, news, visual art | No Comments »
Open Forum has just announced it will be presenting awards for ‘Best Cambodian Blog’ on December 22.
(How about a logo, folks?) More at http://www.openetwork.info/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
Thanks to VuthaSurf for tipoff. Tags:blog,weblog,award,cambodia,khmer
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