Whitehot Recommends: 25 Cambodian Artists Defining Contemporary Discourse

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HOLY  

25 Cambodian Artists Defining Contemporary Discourse  

January 9 – March 31, 2026  

The River Gallery, Siem Reap, Cambodia  

www.therivergallerysr.com

Siem Reap, Cambodia — The River Gallery is pleased to present HOLY: 25 Cambodian Artists Defining Contemporary Discourse, a major group exhibition opening January 9 and on view through March 31, 2026. Featuring 25 contemporary Cambodian artists from nine provinces across the country, the exhibition offers a contemplative and resonant reflection on what is sacred in everyday life, collective memory, and the evolving Cambodian experience.

HOLY brings together artists whose practices are shaped by both inherited histories and present realities. Many have relocated from their home provinces to Cambodia’s urban centers, yet their work remains deeply rooted in the landscapes, traditions, and lived experiences that formed them. Rather than speaking from rupture, the exhibition emphasizes continuity—where resilience is lived rather than proclaimed, joy persists alongside complexity, and meaning is found in the everyday.

The works presented explore the notion of the “holy” not as spectacle, but as something quietly revealed: in familial tenderness, in the natural world, in devotion, and in moments of collective care and unity. Together, the artists articulate new ways of seeing and being while extending, rather than replacing, the past.

Presented during a period of regional tension and social uncertainty, HOLY underscores the importance of sustaining artistic voices and cultural expression. Without addressing politics directly, the exhibition affirms the vital role of contemporary Cambodian artists in shaping national identity and contributing to global cultural discourse at a time when presence, continuity, and creative expression are especially meaningful.

The River Gallery, located along the Siem Reap River in a prominent cultural corridor, has been dedicated for the past two years to exhibiting contemporary Cambodian art. The gallery serves as a platform for emerging and established artists, fostering dialogue between local practices and international audiences while supporting long-term artistic development in Cambodia.

The exhibition opens with a public reception on January 9, from 6-9PM, featuring a live performance by Phnom Penh–based musician Will Rosas, who performs the traditional Cambodian Chapei instrument, alongside music by DJ Fu Gui originating from Chongqing, China. Refreshments will be provided, and voluntary donations will be collected in support of displaced communities currently residing in Cambodia.

HOLY: 25 Cambodian Artists Defining Contemporary Discourse invites viewers to bear witness to the sacred moments unfolding daily across Cambodia—and to the voices of a generation carrying its spirit forward.

Exhibition Details  

Dates: January 9 – March 31, 2026  

Location: The River Gallery, Siem Reap, Cambodia  (Near FCC)

Website: www.therivergallerysr.com 

We also have full details on our FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ZFaES8ZxU/ 

Press & Media Inquiries:  

Julia Haw, Director  

The River Gallery  

julialynnhaw@gmail.com 

+855 095 596 050