This
exhibition shows examples of how people in Cambodia make new
use of everyday materials. By transforming available
resources such as empty plastic and metal containers,
second-hand fabric, engines, and rubber tires, new tools and
objects are crafted for use in daily life. The purpose of
the exhibition is to describe and understand the process of
generating the ideas more than to make a fetish of the
objects themselves, thus emphasizing the ingenuity and
resourcefulness within a living culture.
The tools and
objects displayed here are inspired by a contemporary life
that continually introduces new materials and technologies
into a changing economy. The reuse of materials has become
so commonplace that the practice becomes unnoticed. During
our research and documentation, we were inspired by the
multiple layers of creativity and innovation that exist
behind common practices such as repairing a flat tire or
shredding fruit.
We can
witness the loss of basic dexterity, craft and problem
solving in developed countries where goods are mass-produced
and basic activities such as repairing a lamp is being done
by a specialized company or is simply thrown away. As
Cambodia continues to develop, the everyday practices that
require dexterity and ingenuity of people will change. One
can presume that with the further development of
manufactured goods, practices will continue to stray from
their origins until they disappear.
This
transition can be seen here. Hand-made forms produced with
natural resources are being gradually replaced by
manufactured and synthetic forms. Production using
specialized manual techniques is expedited by contemporary
materials. Some practices shown here retain a labor
intensive process while recycling materials, such as in the
lost wax casting and forging techniques used to transform
ammunition into bells and blades, or quilting with synthetic
garment factory scraps. Other practices are simplified, such
as using a plastic bottle instead of weaving a trap to catch
shrimp.
By mounting
this exhibition we are aware that we are de-contextualizing
these objects. From the perspective of the people who live
every day with these objects it is quite awkward to see them
exposed and given the status of a "museum" object. From the
perspective of a foreign visitor, these objects might appear
exotic.
We hope to
avoid these narrow experiences and instead provoke visitors
to question and reflect on why and how these practices
evolve.
Exhibition:
Curatorial conception: Ly Daravuth
Researcher: Som Prapey
Research and Documentation project: “Tools
and Practices: change and continuity”
Conception: Ingrid Muan and Ly Daravuth
Researchers: Som Prapey (2002-present), Heng Chanthol
(2002-2005),
Thon Longheng (2001-2002),Chourn Bunnath and
Hem Kannitha (2000-2001)
With the support of:
The Albert Kunstadter Family Foundation - The Rockefeller
Foundation – The Prince Claus Fund
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