Sothy Chhim’s Heritage exhibition opens at Rosewood Phnom Penh
The Cambodian artist's new show of 20 works explores how cultural traditions evolve and transform across generations.
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has opened Heritage, an exhibition of 20 works by Cambodian artist Sothy Chhim at the hotel’s art gallery on level 35. The show runs through November 30, 2026, and admission is free.
Chhim, a graduate of the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh, is recognized as one of Cambodia’s leading contemporary artists. His practice draws from Khmer cultural heritage while engaging with contemporary visual language. Heritage explores how tradition is carried forward, transformed and reimagined across generations, positioning cultural inheritance not as a fixed historical object but as a living force that changes and evolves. The exhibition reflects decades of artistic development rooted in local traditions yet open to new forms of expression.
Materials and Technique
The works combine painting with layered materials, notably repurposed rice sacks from Côte d’Ivoire. These everyday objects, which have crossed borders and histories before reaching Cambodia, become integral to the compositions. Visible stitching, textured surfaces and careful arrangement of elements create dialogue around continuity, repair, transformation and connection. Familiar Khmer references interact with diverse textures and forms, creating what the artist describes as a subtle exchange between local and global histories.
The Artist’s Vision
Chhim frames heritage as something that must change to remain vital. “Heritage is not something that belongs only to the past,” he said. “It continues to live when we allow it to change and speak in a new language.” He also invited viewers to consider their own relationship with cultural inheritance, asking them to reflect on “what they preserve, what they change and what they choose to carry forward.” This approach treats heritage not as a museum piece but as an active, evolving presence in contemporary life.
About the Venue
Rosewood Phnom Penh occupies the Vattanac Capital Tower and houses 175 rooms and suites with views of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers. The property positions itself as a platform for Cambodian creative talent and according to Rosewood, acts as a venue for both established and emerging artists. The hotel operates seven restaurants and bars, features Cambodia’s first hydroponic garden and runs Sense, A Rosewood Spa, which combines ancient medicinal practices with modern fitness offerings. The property supports educational partnerships through its hospitality operations. Heritage will remain on view through the end of November, offering guests and local visitors access to the exhibition at no charge.
This article was compiled by the CityLifeBytes editorial desk from the official announcements and reporting listed under Sources.
