VIRTUAL MEMORIAL INTRODUCTION
Peou Lim's Testimony
“Like all city dwellers, the Khmer Rouge forced me to leave Phnom Penh in April 1975. I saw many dead bodies on the way to the labour camps. If we didn’t do what the soldiers said they would have killed us.”
Ear Kimsrun's Testimony
“I had four siblings, two died during the Pol Pot regime. I was forcibly married. I don't know how to express my hunger in Khmer Rouge times. I prayed every day that I could get more food.”
Chouk Vanny's Testimony
“The Khmer Rouge hated us Cham Muslims. Soldiers cut my hair with a meat cleaver. We were not allowed to cry, even if we were abused. Under Pol Pot we were treated worse than dogs.”
Hong Savath's Testimony
“My parents had just been killed. I was very young. The cadres wanted to rape me. They took me into nearby bushes. I got pregnant. Later on, my son and I faced discrimination by other villagers.”
Kham Nyvann's Testimony
"I was 13 years old the hard times began. I want to cry when I talk about the Khmer Rouge nightmare. The soldiers hurt me, they wanted to kill my family. If we didn’t work hard, they would beat us."
Khiev Sareth's Testimony
“I fought in the Civil War, from 1973. When the Khmer Rouge came to power, it was a nightmare. Even though I was very ill I had to work hard. Many people around us died. It still haunts me now.”
Khiev Choun
I cooked for the cadres, and my neighbors. They took my husband away; I could not help him. I saw the Khmer Rouge took monks away for execution. I'd like to advise the younger generations to seek justice and help each other.
Sam Chhun Hieng
I faced a lot of difficulties during the Khmer Rouge regime. They forced me to overwork. Children were separated from their parents. Husbands were separated from wives. I want to remind the young generation: Please be vigilant! Prevent this regime from ever happening again!
Pen Sorn
During Pol Pot, we all suffered like the turtle in the shell because that regime was very cruel. I urge the youth: Please be united and protect our nation!
Chan Tha Siekly
How did the Khmer Rouge regime happen? How did it collapse? Which year?
Kong Phina
At that time, there were more than two million people including police officers. Why did Pol Pot take control of the country and kill Cambodians?
Phan Samnang
Why did the Khmer Rouge regime split families apart?
Svay Ken Talks
Svay Ken, widely respected as the grandfather of contemporary art in Cambodia, passed away on December 11, 2008, at the age of 76. In the same year, German filmmaker Nico Mesterharm and his Cambodian colleague Lach Chantha interviewed the self-taught artist about his life.
Wind Project
Günther Uecker (born 1930) is a German sculptor, op artist and installation artist. He travelled to Cambodia in 1993 where he created a series of works at the Cambodian genocide memorial “Toul Sleng. This interview was led by Dr. Johannes Odenthal of the Berlin Academy of the Arts.
The Pepper Fields
Before the ultra-communist Pol Pot rule. (1975-79), pepper from Kampot was considered the world’s best. Local film students and international filmmakers travel to Cambodia’s south to document its re-branding and the country's early step towards a market-based economy in 2010.
Chan Pisey, born 1983:
"I am a female Khmer artist and I have Khmer blood. I feel very hurt when I hear about the 1.7 million Cambodians who died during the Khmer Rouge regime. Although I did not live through that period, I still feel terrified by the actions of Pol Pot, the vicious Khmer Rouge and how these affected innocent people."
Pisey studied art at PHARE (Ponleu Selapak Art School) in her hometown, Battambang, from 1997 - 2002). She moved to Phnom Penh to further her studies at SETEC Institute (2003 - 2004), where she continues to work as an artist, art teacher and illustrator.
"I am a female Khmer artist and I have Khmer blood. I feel very hurt when I hear about the 1.7 million Cambodians who died during the Khmer Rouge regime. Although I did not live through that period, I still feel terrified by the actions of Pol Pot, the vicious Khmer Rouge and how these affected innocent people."
Pisey studied art at PHARE (Ponleu Selapak Art School) in her hometown, Battambang, from 1997 - 2002). She moved to Phnom Penh to further her studies at SETEC Institute (2003 - 2004), where she continues to work as an artist, art teacher and illustrator.
Chath Piersath, born 1970:
“My works show a relationship between then and now. I paint about death and violence, but also hopes and dreams to move forward.”
Piersath fled to the USA in 1981 and started painting as a coping mechanism. Besides that, he works with other traumatized people. Piersath is based in the USA and Cambodia.
“My works show a relationship between then and now. I paint about death and violence, but also hopes and dreams to move forward.”
Piersath fled to the USA in 1981 and started painting as a coping mechanism. Besides that, he works with other traumatized people. Piersath is based in the USA and Cambodia.
Chan Nawath, born 1975:
“Children received very little education under the KR, just ideological training. The children were torn away from their parents and never knew their family’s warmth.”
Nawath studied at the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA) and won first prize in a painting competition on HIV/ AIDS. He has contributed to many group exhibitions and also works with children and foreign artists.
“Children received very little education under the KR, just ideological training. The children were torn away from their parents and never knew their family’s warmth.”
Nawath studied at the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA) and won first prize in a painting competition on HIV/ AIDS. He has contributed to many group exhibitions and also works with children and foreign artists.