Ouk Chim Vichet: Cambodian Artist for Peace

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Ouk Chim Vichet: Cambodian Artist for Peace

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Photo from http://landmineart.blogspot.com/2009/10 ... twork.html
April 3, 2020
Turning weapons of war to symbols of peace and hope

Thousands of weapons in the kingdom which were once used in the theatre of war are being hammered and welded into symbols of peace and hope by Cambodian artist Ouk Chim Vichet. Som Kanika caught up with him to talk about his artistic journey.

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GT2: As one of the Kingdom’s finest artists, can you share your story so far?
Ouk Chim Vichet: I completed my degree in sculpture in 2006 at the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA) and I’m now teaching in the department of Sculpture and Urbanisation at RUFA.

While I was still as student, I was helped work on the Peace Art Project Cambodia, created in part by British artist Sasha Constable. We reused weapons, turning them into art as an expression of peace.

In my group we learned how to weld, forge and fabricate metal sculptures and then used our skills to create artwork out of decommissioned weapons. Even though it was the first time such a project was commissioned in Cambodia, it was successful.

My team members and I learned a lot about different techniques and we are very proud of the sculptures and monuments we made and our artistic contribution to Cambodian society.

These artworks can still be seen today. They include ‘Dove of Peace’ in Sanderson Park near Wat Phnom, ‘World of Peace’ in Kompong Thom and the ‘Naga for Peace and Development’ in the park along the Steung Sen River in Battambang province.

GT2: Who or what has been your biggest influence?

Ouk Chim Vichet: British artist Sasha Constable, the great-great-great-granddaughter of landscape painter John Constable, who founded the Peace Art Project Cambodia in 2003 and EU arms specialist Neil Wilford***. When we started, none of the students had experience in working with metal art. As part of the project, we recycled more than 800 weapons and transformed rusty AK-47 and M-16 rifles discarded on Cambodian battlefields into sculptural furniture and art in the outskirts of Phnom Penh. That’s what triggered my desire to become a metal sculpture artist.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50709204/t ... -and-hope/

***The Peace Art Project Cambodia explained : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3979163.stm
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http://landmineart.blogspot.com/2009/10 ... twork.html
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