Van Chhovorn

Van Chhovorn
(b. 1982, Site II Refugee Camp, Thailand)
Van Chhovorn was born in a refugee camp for Khmer Rouge genocide survivors in Thailand in 1982. Later, as a young man, he was enslaved on a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Thailand with 24 other Cambodian and Burmese men for more than two years.
He luckily regained his freedom through much hardship and was able to study at a free non-profit art school, Phare Ponleu Selpak, in Battambang, Cambodia where he became a wood sculptor and painter.
Important to his career is a recurring dream where an ancient “Dream Teacher” speaks to him and shows him what to do and which pieces of wood to select for his sculptures.
He currently resides in Battambang with his family and is pursuing his art career with Open Studio Cambodia (Siem Reap).

Selected Group Exhibitions & Awards

Solo Exhibitions
2021       ”Odyssey I” Van Chhovorn, 282 Gallery, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021       ASEM Cultural Festival 2021 - Asia & Europe:
  Cultures Connect, National Museum of Cambodia,
  Phnom Penh, Cambodia
“Hope on the Horizon,” Open Studio Cambodia, AIR Gallery, Factory Phnom Penh, powered by FT Gallery
United Nations Human Rights Day Conference, invited teaching artist, exhibiting artist, Phare Ponleu Selpak, Battambang, Cambodia
2020        Group Exhibition of Cambodian Contemporary Art,
  Galerie Lee, Paris, France
“Tomorrow is a New Day,” Open Studio Cambodia, AIR Gallery, Factory Phnom Penh, powered by FT Gallery
“Romcheik 5 + Kampot 1 = 282,” Pi-Pet-Pi Art Gallery,
  Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Arn-Chorn Pond Scholarship Grantee, Cambodia Living Arts, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
United Nations Human Rights Day Conference, invited teaching artist, exhibiting artist, Phare Ponleu Selpak,
Battambang, Cambodia
2019      Collected by the Romcheik 5 Countryside Museum
for permanent display
2019 Battambang Art Festival, Battambang, Cambodia
2016       The Giant Puppet Project, Siem Reap, Cambodia
2012       “Tonle Mekong,” United States of America Embassy,
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
2012       Sammaki Gallery, Battambang, Cambodia
2011       Romeat Gallery, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
2011       French Cultural Center, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Awards
2021        Bronze Prize Winner, White Canvas Art Competition,
  Social Compass
2020 Winner, Arn Chorn-Pond Living Arts Scholarship,
  Cambodian Living Arts

"The Seventeen Levels of Hell" (2022) Van Chhovorn, acrylic on canvas 27.5 x 35.5 inches (70 x 90 cm)

“When I was 26 years old, I was unconscious for one night and two days. At that time, I was in hell, just like in the movies. I met two people, one with a cow’s head and one with a buffalo’s head. They were like ghosts and had sticks like spears. While I was crossing a bridge as narrow as a single wooden board, I wondered why they could not catch me. Then I met a man carrying a heavy load and I asked him if I could help him carry it. He replied, “No, I am afraid you will take my money.” He was afraid I would exploit him and that my intentions were not genuinely helpful.
Just then, he took a few wrong steps and suddenly he and his money fell off the small bridge and burst into flames. He shouted for me to help. He fell into the 17 levels of hell.”

កាលខ្ញុំអាយុម្ភៃប្រាំមួយឆ្នាំខ្ញុំបានភ្លឹកអត់ដឹងខ្លួនរយៈពេលមួយយប់ពីរថ្ងៃ។
ហើយខ្ញុំពេលនុះហាក់បីដូចជានៅឋាននរកអញ្ចឹង, ដែលធ្លាប់តែមើលក្នុងរឿងភាពយន្ត ដែលខ្ញុំបានជួបមនុស្សពីរនាក់ហើយមានក្បាលគោមួយនិងក្បាលដូចក្របីមួយដែលមានកាន់ដំបងក្បាលខ្មោចនិងដំបងមាដូចមុចលំពែង ខណៈពេលដែលខ្ញុំដើរឆ្លងកាត់ស្ពានដ៏តូចដូចបន្ទះក្តារ ហើយតែពួកគេឆ្ងល់ដែលចាប់ខ្ញុំអត់បាន, ហើយខ្ញុំបានជួបអ៊ុំប្រុសម្នាក់ហើយសួរគាត់ថាអ៊ុំស្ពាយសំពាយធ្ងន់ណាស់ខ្ញុំជួយស្ពាយដែរទេ? គាត់ថាអត់ទេខ្លាចឯងយកលុយអញ, អញខំគេងប្រវញ្ញ័គេមិនហ៊ាននិងជួយអ្នកក្រីក្រផងខ្លាចឯងយកលុយអញ។ ពេលនុះគាត់ក៏ដើរបានពីរបីជំហ៊ានក៏ស្រាប់តែធ្លាក់ពីលើស្ពានដ៏តូចហើយឆេះសន្ធោរសន្ធៅជាមួយលុយដ៏ច្រើនហើយស្រែកឱ្យខ្ញុំជួយផង, ដែលខ្ញុំបានឮអ្នកដែលមានក្បាលគោក្របីថាវាសមនិងផលកម្មវាហើយដែលគេងប្រវញ្ញ័ញើសឈាមគេកាលនៅរស់ហើយវាក៏ត្រូវធ្លាក់ទៅនរក17ជាន់។

"God's Hand Covers His Face" (2022) Van Chhovorn, acrylic on canvas 23.5 x 23.5 inches (60 x 60 cm)

“One time, when I was on a boat in the middle of the sea with many other slaves. Suddenly, there was a storm and a squall rose up and chased after the boat. We were terrified, if the squall hit the boat, we would surely die.
At that time I prayed to God, his hand covering his face, please help us avoid this storm. After I prayed, the squall suddenly swirled away from the boat. We were all so happy to have survived the devastating storm.”
“One time, when I was on a boat in the middle of the sea with many other slaves. Suddenly, there was a storm and a squall rose up and chased after the boat. We were terrified, if the squall hit the boat, we would surely die.
At that time I prayed to God, his hand covering his face, please help us avoid this storm. After I prayed, the squall suddenly swirled away from the boat. We were all so happy to have survived the devastating storm.”

វេលាមួយពេលខ្ញុំនៅលើទូកកណ្តាលសមុទ្រជាមួយទាសករជាច្រើននៅលើទូក. ហើយទូកបានធ្វើដំនើរមកច្រាំងតែស្រាប់តែមានខ្យល់ព្យុះជាមួយនិងទឹកសមុទ្រគួចឡើងលើកំពុងដេញពីក្រោយទូក. ពួកខ្ញុំភយ័ខ្លាចយ៉ាងខ្លាំងបើសិនជាវាគួចដល់ហើយលេចទូកពួកខ្ញុុំប្រាកដជាស្លាប់. ពេលនុះខ្ញុំក៏បែរបន់ដល់ព្រះបិទមុខសូមជួយបញ្ជៀសព្យុះនេះផង។
ក្រោយបែរបន់ហើយរំពេចនុះខ្យល់គួចក៏បានគួចឆ្ងាយអំពីទូកទៅ. ពួកខ្ញុំក៏មានអារម្មណ៌ត្រេកអរដែលបានផុតពីព្យុះដ៏កំណាចនេះ។

“Free From the Sea of Blood” (2022) Van Chhovorn Acrylic on canvas 70 x 90 cm (27.5 x 35.5 inches)

“Enemies Become Friends” (2022) Van Chhovorn Acrylic on canvas 90 x 90 cm (35.5 x 35.5 inches) SOLD

One time, our fishing boat docked near an island to escape a storm for a few days. Khmer and Thai slaves quarreled and sought to kill each other. I found myself becoming the mediator. I said, “If you kill each other wives become widows and children become orphans, with no one to depend on and no one to raise them. The winner will be punished by the police of Malaysia. Therefore, there are no winners. There are only losers. If we end this conflict with each other, and choose kindness, we will have no death, no convictions, and our wives and children will have us to care for them. Khmer and Thai people are all Buddhists and share the same fears of the storms we have encountered at sea.”

My reconciliation resulted in the end of the quarrel and we all gained friendship and mutual joy.
នៅពេលទូកនេសាទត្រីបានចតនៅក្បែរកោះដែលគេចពីព្យុះរលកធំៗ ពីបីថ្ងៃ. ទាសករខ្មែរនិងថៃឈ្លោះប្រកែកគ្នារកកាប់សម្លាប់គ្នា។ ពេលនុះខ្ញុំជាអ្នកសម្របសម្រួលមិនឱ្យមានការកាប់សម្លាប់គ្នា ដោយហែតុនិងផល. ពោលគឺ បើអ្នកទាំងអស់កាប់សម្លាប់គ្នាមានអ្នកស្លាប់និងរស់. អ្នកស្លាប់ប្រពន្ធក្លាយជាស្រីមេម៉ាយកូនកំព្រារឳុពុក. គ្មានអ្នកពឹងពាក់និងចិញ្ចឹម. ហើយអ្នកឈ្នះត្រូវប៉ូលីសប្រទសម៉ាឡេសុីចាប់ដាក់ទោសតាមច្បាប់. ដូច្នេះហើយគឺគ្មានអ្នកឈ្នះទេគឺចាញ់ទាំងអស់បើយើងទំនាស់គ្នាបន្តិចបន្តួួចចេះអនុគ្រោះគ្នាយើងអត់មានអ្នកស្លាប់និងអត់ជាប់ទោសប្រពន្ធកូនក៏មានអ្នកចិញ្ចឹមនិងមើលថែរ. ព្រោះខ្មែរនិងថៃកាន់សាសនាព្រះពុទ្ធដូចគ្នាទេ ហើយយើងក៏ភយ័ខ្លាចនូវការស្លាប់ដែរក្រោយទូកនេសាទយើងជួបព្យុះជាច្រើនលើក។ ហើយការសម្របសម្រួលខ្ញុំក៏បានផលការឈ្លោះគ្នាមកជាមិត្តនិងគ្នាវិញដោយក្តីរីករាយ

"Mercy" (2022) Van Chhovorn, Acrylic on canvas 70 x 70 cm (27.5 x 27.5 inches) SOLD

“One morning when I had to swim in the sea everyday, I saw a big shark near the boat. I was scared and in my heart prayed to God not to let my boss tell me to swim (my job was to swim and tie the fishing net in order to pull it onto the boat.) If I went swimming, I knew I would surely be killed and eaten by that shark.
I begged my boss not to make me go swimming in the sea. If I did, I would die and be shark food. “If you leave me on the boat, I will work all my life for you.” He thought about it, took pity on me, and didn’t make me go swimming at that time. I am very happy to have my life and to be free from that shark.”

_ពេលព្រឹកមួយខ្ញុំជាអ្នកហែលទឹកសមុទ្រជារៀងរាល់ថ្ងៃ. ខ្ញុំបានឃើញត្រីឆ្លាមដ៏ធំនៅក្បែរទូក. ខ្ញុំមានអារម្មណ៌ភយ័ខ្លាចហើយ ក្នុងចិត្តបួងសួងដល់ព្រះសូមកុំឱ្យចៅហ្វាយនាយរបស់ខ្ញុំឱ្យខ្ញុំហែលទឹកចងខ្សែអួនដើម្បីទាញអួនមកលើទូកនេសាទត្រីអី. បើខ្ញុំចុះហែលួឹកខ្ញុំប្រាកដជាស្លាប់ដោយសារត្រីឆ្លាមសុីមិនខាន. ។
ពេលនុះខ្ញុំក៏សំពះអង្វរសុំចៅហ្វាយនាយខ្ញុំមិនឱ្យចុះហែលទឹកសមុទ្រ បើចុះខ្ញុំនិងស្លាប់ដោយជាចំណីត្រីឆ្លាម.

“The Value of Life” (2022) Van Chhovorn Acrylic on canvas 70 x 70 (27.5 x 27.5 inches)

“This is the life of a slave fishing the sea. Everyday on the vast sea, there are sharks and other dangers to the slaves resulting in many deaths as we work on the boat. There are quarrels, massacres.
Everytime I go to bed, I pray for good and I do things to help others in holiness. I pray, “please save my life so I can live well and return to my homeland.”

_. ក្នុងជីវិតរស់នៅជាទាសករនេសាទត្រីសមុទ្រ. ការរស់នៅប្រចាំថ្ងៃនៅលើផ្ទៃសមុ្រទដ៏ធំធេង មានត្រីឆ្លាមនិងជួបគ្រោះថ្នាកផ្សេងដល់ទាសករស្លាប់បាត់បង់ជីវិតជាច្រើន. នៅពេលធ្វើការលើទូក. និងឈ្លោះទាស់គ្នា. កាប់សម្លាប់រង្គាល។

"Life Does Not End, Life Does Not Die" (2022) Van Chhovorn, acrylic on canvas, 70 x 70 cm (27.5 x 27.5 inches) SOLD

“One day I swam in the sea to untangle the fishing net as was my job. While I wasn’t looking at the net, it wrapped around my legs and pulled me down. I was almost out of breath. I prayed to God to save me from death, I prayed to God in my heart. Then, a miracle happened. The net I was trying to shake from my legs disappeared. I'm breathing again. Life is free again from the clutches of death.”

ថ្ងៃមួយខ្ញុំហែលទឹកស្រាយសាច់អួនដែលរមូលជំពាក់. ដោយមិនបានមើលសាច់អួនធ្លាក់រុំជើងខ្ញុំហើទាញខ្ញុំលេចទៅនិងទឹកស្ទើរផុតដង្ហើម ។ ខ្ញុំក៏សំពះអធិដ្ឋានដល់ព្រះសុំឱ្យខ្ញុំរួចពីក្តីស្លាប់ផង ក្រោយខ្ញុំអធិដ្ឋានសំពះដល់ព្រះក្នុងចិត្តហើយ. ដូចមានអភនិហារ៌កើតឡើងសាច់អួនដែលខ្ញុំព្យាយាមដោះស្រាយពីជើងដែលទាញខ្ញុលង់ទៅក្នុងទឹកក៏របូត. ហើយខ្ឋុំក៏មានដង្ហើមដកសារជាថ្មីម្តងទៀត. ជីវិតក៏ផុតពីក្រញាំមច្ចុរាជ

"Dream Teacher" (2019), Van Chhovorn, Wood carving, 38 inches (96 cm) SOLD

"Feminine" (2019), Van Chhovorn, Wood carving, 19 inches (48 cm) (Front) SOLD

"Ratanakiri Tribe Girl" (Front) (2019), Van Chhovorn, Wood carving, 24 x 9 inches (62 x 23 cm) SOLD

"Hunger of Slaves II (Self-Portrait)" (2020) Van Chhovorn, acrylic on canvas, 33.5 x 39 inches (85 x 100 cm) SOLD

“Slave’s Prayer” (2020) Van Chhovorn Acrylic on canvas 23,5 x 23,5 inches (60 x 60 cm) - SOLD

“Omniscient” (2020) Van Chhovorn Acrylic on canvas, 39,5 x 39,5 inches (100 x 100 cm) SOLD

"One Day Equals One Year" (2020), Van Chhovorn, acrylic on canvas, 39 x 33.5 inches (100 x 85 cm) - SOLD

“Breathing Again” (2020) Van Chhovorn Acrylic on canvas, 19,5 x 15,5 inches (50 x 39 cm) - SOLD

(2020) Van Chhovorn Acrylic on canvas 39 x 23.5 inches (100 x 60 cm) SOLD

“Footprints of Destiny” (2020) Van Chhovorn Acrylic on canvas, 39,5 x 39,5 inches (100 x 100 cm) SOLD