Cambodian Comics50 Years in 20 Slides

All images © individual artists. Do not reproduce without authorization.

1960s – 1975 Pre-War Comics Culture

French influencedArtists were able to earn a salary from comics

Surviving artists– Uth Roeun– Hul Sophon

No comics from 1975 to mid-1980s

1979 – 1989 The Socialist Era

‘New Life in Kompong Preah’ – Uth Roeun

‘Torn Chey’ by Uth Roeun. Started the 1980s comics boom.

Tum Teav (Uth Roeun), Romance of the Tiger Lady (Im Sokha, cover Or Yuthea), Sovannasam (Em Satya)

1980s comics included musical interludes! Here are the lyrics for ‘Kompong Thom is in the Heart’ (Or Yuthea) and ‘Sell Your Rice Field and Go to the Bar’.

Svay Ken• Started career in retirement (1994 – 2008)• Series of paintings telling stories • If this is not a comic, what is?

1989 – 1993 ‘State of Cambodia’

Meanwhile:

• Ung Bunhean• Phousera ‘Séra’ Ing• Keu Tian, many others

Overseas Cambodians

1993- Present Kingdom of Cambodia“Free Market” style economy: Outreach & Art Comics

2001 – ‘Lakhorn Kou’Project & additional workshops

2004 Comics Exhibition Centre Culturel Francais

SéraExhibition 2005Begins teachingContinues to present day

‘Flower of Battambang’ – graphic novel begun in 1990, finished 2007 (Em Satya)

Womens’ Comics WorkshopArtists join Global ’24 Hour Comics Day’

A community of young Cambodian artists is developing their voice…

And new works are appearing frequently!

Stay Tuned:

OurBooksCambodia.org

To the Our Books Cambodia team (Chinn Piseth, Soeun Klo, Kim Phally, Jet Odrerir, Vanessa Ferrer) + Lim Santepheap. Thanks to Heng Huy Eng (tech support), Lok Kru Séra, Alain Daniel, Frank Smith, John Marston, John Lent, Olivier Jeandel. Thanks to artists for letting me show samples of their work, including Phousera ‘Séra’ Ing, Uth Roeun, Em Satya, Im Sokha, Or Yuthea,

Chuon Ra, Ung Bunhean, Sin Yang Pirom, Pal Vannariraks, Moeu ‘Vuth’ Diyadaravuth, Tek Tevin, Sao Sreymao, Chan Pisey, Prom Vannak, Sen

Samondara, Sam Sarath, Y Lida, Soeung Makara, Try Samphos, Chan Ny, Kong Monirath, Ly Karim, Nhek Sophaleap, Seng Visal, Nguon Sakal, Chea

Sreyroth, Beng Rahadian, Akira Fukaya, Freddy Nadolny Poustochkine. Merci les artistes Lakhorn Kou: Keu Tian, Lucie Albon, Sylvain Moizie, Lisa Mandel. Thanks to projects, organizations and institutions: Phare Ponleu

Selpak, project VALEASE, Centre Culturel Français, Reyum Institute, Java Arts, The Living Room, and Arts Network Asia. Cheers to ‘SuperAnne’ (Ann Elizabeth Moore) and Sara Drake. Thanks to researchers Katherine Brickell

and Jason Dittmer, as well as Teri Yamda, Elizabeth Guthrie and David Chandler for their enthusiasm.

There are many more to thank, this story is ‘To Be Continued’. Svay Ken, Chuon Ra, you are missed.