Using Indigenous, mythological and contemporary symbols, Leang Seckon explores the intersection of history and traumatic memory in Cambodia. This lush, densely painted work features collage and decorative elements built up against a tapestry-like background. It draws on myths of the creation of the Cambodian Khmer Empire and juxtaposes historic images of Cambodia’s kings, of flowers and trees, scaled serpents devouring each other, wrestling figures, Hindu and Buddhist idols, popular cultural imagery, and the flowing Mekong River.

One of the few remaining Cambodian artists to have directly experienced the genocidal Khmer Rouge period, Leang believes that the rapid development of Cambodia has denied survivors time to reflect on their past. While he references that brutal period in the country’s history, he also reflects on the impact of modernisation on the environment and on individuals, combining powerful symbols and personal reflection to come to terms with a traumatic collective past.