Voices Festival Highlights Women's Empowerment and Artistry

Sreypeou Kaeu, the first Cham to graduate from RUFA, had her work featured in the Voices exhibition at Meta House.

A festival of creativity recently took over Meta House as the ‘Voices: Women in Arts and Media’ exhibition and ‘Voices Women’s Film Festival’ showcased the powerful works of 14 artists. These artists used their talents to address issues surrounding female empowerment and gender-based violence.

The multi-media exhibition, which opened on June 10, featured a diverse collection of paintings, photos, sculptures, and digital art by both Cambodian and foreign female artists. A Cambodian male sculptor also presented his work, contributing to the rich tapestry of voices and perspectives.

“The aim of the festival was to highlight women’s voices and initiate open conversations about women’s issues,” said Emily Emminghaus, project manager of ‘Speak Out, Sisters!’—a 15-month campaign aimed at eradicating the persistent sexual and gender-based violence in Cambodia.

“We reached out to many female artists, listened to their messages, and then collected their voices,” Emily added. The event also included a six-day film festival, which began on June 11, featuring entries from Cambodia as well as films from the Social Impact Media Awards.

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Painting Powerful Messages

At the exhibition, Sreypeou Kaeu showcased her work, including a striking painting of an acrylic Cham Bani bride in colorful wedding attire, complete with an intricate headdress. She highlighted the delicately patterned shawl, or jabout, which is at risk of disappearing due to the declining number of artisans.

“In my paintings, I like to portray Cham culture from my community, showing everyone how we dress and the significance of our traditions,” she said.

The 25-year-old from Kampong Chhnang province is the first Cham to graduate from the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA). After completing her four-year Bachelor’s degree last year, this exhibition marked her first major public showcase.

“I always wanted to be an artist, even before I knew what that truly meant. It was something I felt compelled to do,” she shared. “I consider myself lucky. My family supported me, especially my sister. Being the first Cham to graduate from RUFA shows that I am a woman who can achieve her dreams. I never thought I would be an artist, so I feel very happy.”

Sreypeou has developed a unique technique for creating paintings that reflect Cham culture, traditions, and the role of Muslim women in contemporary society. “I want to continue creating more paintings related to my culture,” she told Kiripost.

“This exhibition was a significant opportunity for me, and I’m thrilled to have had the chance to share my culture with others.”

Another artist, Ny Sreyroth, used her skills as a form of catharsis after surviving a brutal attack in Pattaya, Thailand, in 2021. Sreyroth moved to Thailand during the Covid-19 pandemic to work, but the experience turned traumatic when she was attacked by two foreign men who abducted and tortured her with acid and a knife.

Sreyroth eventually escaped and sought help. The incident made headlines in both Thai and Cambodian media. Despite the ongoing trauma and panic attacks, painting has become a way for Sreyroth to find closure.

“This is a really strong story of empowerment. Her painting dealing with her trauma is a significant contribution to the exhibition,” Emily noted.

Empowering Women

The Voices Festival was part of the ‘Speak Out, Sisters!’ project, launched by the I-NGO Cambodian-German Cultural Association in cooperation with the NGO Women’s Media Center and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

The project employs intergenerational dialogues, video testimonials, theatre, photography, TV, radio, and the internet to address the challenges faced by survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, both past and present.

Looking ahead, there are plans for some of the paintings from the ‘Voices’ exhibition to tour rural schools, helping to spread the message nationwide. “We hope to have schoolyard exhibitions to showcase the voices we’ve collected and highlight some of the artworks,” Emily said.

Kol Sovanpichvicheka, the project’s social media administrator, added, “The festival carried a truly empowering message. It wasn’t just about painting beauty; it was about self-expression, what women want to achieve, and their dreams.”