Svay Sareth

Place: Battambang

Born: 1972

Biography:

Svay Sareth is a Cambodian artist born in Battambang in 1972. He began making art as a teenager while living in a refugee camp located near the Thai-Cambodian border. His works in sculpture, installation and durational performance are made using materials and processes intentionally associated with war – metals, stones, fire, and actions that implicate his own body. His practice is deeply rooted in his personal experiences of war and resistance, and in his critical reflection on the history of Cambodia and its political context. Svay Sareth's works often involve a performative dimension, either in the form of live actions or in the way they are presented, inviting the viewer to engage with the complex issues they address. He has exhibited widely in Cambodia and internationally, and has participated in numerous residencies and workshops. He is currently based in Siem Reap, Cambodia.