Cambodian Grrrl review

New review of Cambodian Grrrl, from the Jacksonville Public Library:

"When Punk Planet . . . closed its doors in 2007, one could be forgiven for thinking that maybe [Moore] entered into at least a short period of mourning or depression. Not so. Moore decamped to Cambodia, starting a program where she mentored young women students in areas of creative expression and self-publishing. . . . This work is potentially revolutionary. . . . 1000000000000000% punk rock."

Viet Lê: boy bang!

Conceptual artist Viet Lê presents his first solo exhibition in Cambodia, boy bang! at Java Cafe.

From the press materials: 

Lê states, “Almost everywhere in the countryside and the city in Cambodia, Viet Nam and Thailand one can hear the latest Korean pop hit, pumping hip hop rhythms, or cover songs of stars such as Akon echoing from cell phones, nightclubs, pools and pool halls.” In this ongoing photographic series (2008-2010), the artist explores the explosion of pop culture (music, films, soap operas) in contemporary Cambodia, Japan, Viet Nam, China, Korea, among other Asian countries. “The project examines how popular culture is created and consumed within Asia, its diasporas and beyond,” Lê notes. Conceived as limited edition fine art objects, the images blur the line between ‘high art’ and mainstream consumer culture. Further challenging the divide between fiction and reality, Cambodia’s celebrated boy band Cartoon Emo will be rocking live at the opening.

 “Solo acts and boy bands such as Jay Chou, Fahrenheit, Rain and Super Junior have legions of local and international fans, ranging from screaming teeny boppers to desperate housewives and queer eyes for these (questionably) straight guys,” observes Lê. He continues, “Gay Asian porn magazines and DVD covers have aped the look of boy band CD covers and posters, redefining the term heart throb.” The images from the series look like posters of all sizes for concert tours, movies, and so on—a teen’s dream, but with a critical edge.

The artist states, “I’m interested in desire, especially what the nation-state desires and what consumers desire. These desires are reflected in pop culture.” He asserts that pop may also be a way of addressing the twin traumas of modernization and history. Through parody and play, the series deals with issues of translation, development and the blurred boundaries of desire.

Exhibition opening with special guest band Cartoon Emo:

Thursday, November 4, 2010;  6pm exhibition opening and 7:30pm concert
Artist talk: 5:30pm Sunday, November 7

Java Gallery – 56 Sihanouk Blvd, Phnom Penh, Cambodia