Phare School Founder Dies From Covid-19 Aged 49

CEOCambodiaNews · Post by **CEOCambodiaNews** » Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:23 pm

RIP Srey Bandaul

Artist, Phare School Founder Dies From Covid-19 at Age 49
2 min read
Danielle Keeton-Olsen
| Thu Aug 5, 2021 2:50 pm
One of the founders of world-renowned art school Phare Ponleu Selpak died from Covid-19 on Wednesday evening.

Srey Bandaul, 49, founder of Phare and himself an established painter, died on Wednesday night in Battambang, according to a press release from the school known for teaching Cambodian artists in Battambang province and its popular circus show in Siem Reap city.

Osman Khawaja, executive director of Phare, told VOD on Thursday that he was feeling “total disbelief and shock” at Bandaul’s passing.

“He was the most kindred spirit and the most compassionate person I ever met,” he said. “He passionately believed in arts as a tool to heal. Arts healed him and made him a more peaceful person. He truly embodied the arts.”

Khawaja added that Bandaul had contracted Covid-19 about one week ago, and he had seemed to be recovering before succumbing to the virus on Wednesday night.

His art and profession was profoundly shaped by his experience in a refugee camp after the ousting of the Khmer Rouge regime.
Full article: https://vodenglish.news/artist-phare-sc ... at-age-49/

More on Phare, the Cambodian Circus:
cambodian-culture-and-language/phare-th ... 24556.html

Ghostwriter · Post by **Ghostwriter** » Fri Aug 06, 2021 12:55 pm

Now that's a shame.
A local real artist with a impressive background and will, a real kids & adults entertainer bringing joy & laughters, outrunned by this damn virus.

I hope he gets more honors and thread's lenghts than the other scandalous peoples with awful deeds people like to comment...

RIP

Anchor Moy · Post by **Anchor Moy** » Fri Aug 06, 2021 2:52 pm

^ Yes, a real shame for Cambodia to lose such talent. RIP.