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Festival Photo Phnom Penh 2024

Sam Ang Ourng, The Beloved Kampong Som

French Institute of Cambodia (Media Library Wall) - November 21, 2024 to January 15, 2025


Many important documentary projects are built over time. Going back and back to the same place, following a person for many years, exploring the same situation or the same problem in different places allows us to go beyond simple observations and anecdotes. It has been the choice of Sam Ang Ourng for his photography, which purpose, for all his projects, deal with the long term. A good example is given by his documentation of the evolution and deep changes in Sihanoukville since 2019.

This native of Kampot in 1996 had no special reason, except curiosity, to photograph this area. He trained in Kep in the journalism and social media department at the Don Bosco Technical School. It was there that he discovered photography and learned to use a camera. But after his studies, which he completed in 2016, he hardly practiced photography anymore and worked for Channel 5 in a technical production team for television. Increasingly passionate about photography, he perfected his skills by following the workshops of Sa Sa Art Projects, then those of Philong Sovan and Marie Le Mounier at the French Institute before a last one with Vandy Rattana.

In 2018 he discovered Sihanoukville, the favorite seaside resort for Cambodians and, seduced by the place, began by creating their landscapes which had become his favorite practice. It was the beginning of his project “The Beloved Kampong Som”. At that time the city was undergoing profound transformation. As part of the Silk Road, the largest deep-water port in the country was equipped with new infrastructure and Chinese investors were massively present. New buildings, new structuration of the town and, in 2019, there were no fewer than 62 casinos in town. If this activity was slowed down - while a third of the city's population was at that time Chinese - by a decree of August 2019 banning online betting which permitted money laundering. A certain number of Chinese left but the madness of real estate construction wasn’t stopped. Until the Covid crisis which completely blocked Chinese tourism and slowed down economic activity. The crisis was there, which left hundreds of buildings abandoned or with construction interrupted. Contemporary ruins.

Sam Ang Ourng documents this situation and the contrast with the quiet and beautiful beach without emphasis, without insisting, without taking a position. He notes and the contrasts between the beach and the large buildings, some still under construction, are shown with subtlety in a great unity of lights and colors. A work that will continue.


Inauguration weekend from November 21 to November 24 in Phnom Penh 
Join us on November 21 at 6pm for the official launching of the festival at the French Institute!

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This year, Photo Phnom Penh is proud to present: 

  • At the French Institute (until January 15, 2025): a retrospective of 60 photographers who took part in the Festival Photo Phnom Penh throughout its history, with works never before seen in Cambodia (Gallery); Ourng Sam Ang with "The Beloved Kampong Som" (Media Library); 
  • On the wall of the French embassy: (until February 28, 2025): Vincent Fournier;
  • At the SOSORO Museum (until December 21, 2024): Christine Spengler with "Retrospective";
  • at Factory Phnom Penh : Jean-François Spricigo with "Retrouvailles", Aglaé Bory with "Two Series" & Alexandre Bergamini (until December 12 at the FT Gallery) ; 7 students of the École nationale supérieure de la photographie d'Arles, France (until December 21 at the Air Gallery by Sra'Art); 
  • At La Plantation Urban Resort & Spa (until December 21, 2024): Chiron Duong;
  • At Bophana Center (until December 21, 2024): Ly Sovanna with "Ranoch Visited Angkor";
  • At Friends Future Factory (until December 21, 2024) : Mech Sereyrath with "When the Sun Reaches The River";
  • At Phnom Penh Airports (until February 21, 2025): Kem Sovanna with "Landscape Sculpted by Light";
  • At Studio Images - Maison de la Photographie: Soun Sayon with "Decay" (From November 22 to December 10); Mabe Bethônico with "One Traveller After Another" from December 10 to January 10).