PHNOM PENH – SA SA BASSAC is pleased to present In The Club by Ouk Sochivy, a new series of figurative paintings inspired by nightclub fashion in Phnom Penh.

Born in Phnom Penh in 1984, Ouk is among the 70% of her nation’s population under 30 years of age, raised during the early stages of Cambodia’s development and urbanization. She is known for her quintessential evocations of the Khmer youth segment known as Freshies. Described as a style and identity shaped by the requirements for popular televised talent contests, the Freshies notably import globalised beauty and fashion trends from neighboring Asian metropolises.

In The Club’s thirteen works are narrated by candid titles that offer insight into the characters and customs of Cambodian club culture. Many clubs are equal parts bar, disco, runway, and cabaret, thus fashion and styling is highly integral to the nightlife experience, making everyone from audience to entertainer, a performer.

DJ with Decks is composed in the artist’s “Hip Hop Style” which refers to the nascent American-inspired Khmer hip-hop movement and apparel, while House Band and Group Sing depict “Pop Star Style”, referring to musicians and audiences who play live at karaoke halls, often wearing retro garb in synthetic fibers. Backup Dancers and Team Dance Girls portray the phenomena of “clubs” produced at television stations for live broadcast, where choreography resembles aerobic exercise routines done in an earnest, if slightly mechanical, manner. Trans Girls Fashion Show was drawn from the artist’s visit to Classic, a trendy club hosting nightly drag shows. Boyfriend Girlfriend Fashion is a commentary on how many couples today are styled as one entity.

Ouk’s direct approach to both her technique and subject matter is a practice passed down by her grandfather, Svay Ken (1933-2009), who is often referred to as the grandfather of contemporary art in Cambodia. While her inheritance continues Svay’s goal of keeping a record of everyday Cambodia for generations to come, it departs from the personal stories and objects derived from his personal, sixty tumultuous years of life in Cambodia. Ouk, now 27, paints her version of daily life.

Ouk’s characters emerge from a range of sources including photos culled from magazines, “research visits” to Phnom Penh’s hottest nightspots (Spark, Rock, and Classic), and the artist’s imagination. While many of today’s well-known figure painters inspired by fashion intend to serve the culture they capture, Ouk’s paintings are an extension of the entertainment industry. Ouk acts not only as a painter, but also as a stylist. She outlines poses before proceeding to hairstyles, clothing, accessories, and make-up. Ultimately, her paintings serve as one link in a chain of earnest expressions from a youthculture discovering itself during a highly transitional time.

About the Artist
Ouk Sochivy (b. 1984) is a painter best known for her playful, figurative works of Khmer youth. In the Club marks the artist’s second solo exhibition, following To Be Continued,
Bophana Audiovisual Resource Centre Gallery, Phnom Penh (2009). Select group exhibitions include Farmers and Freshies, Sa Sa Art Gallery, Phnom Penh (2010); and Forever Until Now, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong (2009).

About SA SA BASSAC
SA SA BASSAC is a gallery and resource center dedicated to creating, facilitating, producing, and sharing contemporary visual culture in and from Cambodia.

Exhibition Details
Exhibition: In The Club, by Ouk Sochivy
Opening: Thursday 16 June, 6:00-8:00PM
Dates: 16 June – 10 July, 2011
Opening Hours: Thu-Fri-Sat 2-6pm / Sun 10am-6pm + by appointment
Location: #18 2nd Floor, Sothearos Blvd, Phnom Penh
Website: www.sasabassac.com

Contact:
Erin Gleeson
Co-Founder / Curator / Director
+855 (0)12 507 917
erin@sasabassac.com