UC Facilitates Annual High School Arts Competition

By Tim Vutha

Every year, the University of Cambodia hosts an art contest to determine who shall go to Japan to represent our country in the International High School Arts Festival. The art competition was held on July 12, 2009.

In collaboration with Dr. Haruhisa Handa, Chairman of The University of Cambodia, UC wants to encourage all Cambodian high school students to participate in the art competition.

H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, President of UC said, “This competition is initiated to promote the natural talent and goodwill of young Cambodian people on the art of drawing, painting, and sculpture. Especially for those who are studying in high school surrounding Cambodia. The winning drawing will be exposed to others. It will be representing Khmer arts in the International High School Arts Festival in Japan at the end of this month.”

H.E Samraing Kamsan, UC advisor and the coordinator of the art competition added that “this priceless skill is the spirit of our national identity. If they don’t learn accurately about our Khmer arts, there wouldn’t be any Khmer spirit in our arts, so we want them to learn it right. Also, if the younger generation becomes more professional in arts, they can reduce the poverty in their family and also participate in the improvement of our national economy.”

Mr. Bo Sakalkitya, 17, from Hun Sen Serei Pheap High School in Kandal Province, attended the competition by getting the information from his drawing teacher. His teacher had once won first place in this competition

“My drawing expresses that if mankind can consolidate together to protect our planet sincerely and never commit any activities in destroying the Earth, our ‘Earth’ would live a longer life. Also, the two big hands around the Earth symbolizes that the world population should unify to protect our planet,” said Mr. Sakalkitya.

Ms. Sunla Pisey, 17, who is studying at grade 9 at Beoung Trabek High School, drew images of both the Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear Temples.

“I would like to show off the wonderful views of these two artificial temples of Khmer fine arts to the Khmer younger generation. I hope this would boost their knowledge about our temples and help to protect our national priceless legacies from the neighboring enemies,” said Ms Pisey.

Mr. Chea Bunly, 18, studying at Neth Yang High School in the Battambang Province, drew an outstanding painting of Preah Vihear Temple. His explanation of the temple gave him the winning spot in the competition. His art topic was about protecting our cultural heritage.

“The Preah Vihear Temple is being invaded by our neighboring enemies. I want to eliminate those evil beings out of the Preah Vihear Temple. We, the People of Khmer, the successors of our great ancestors who built the Preah Vihear Temple, must unify to protect this priceless temple,” Mr. Bunly said.

He also explained other points of his drawing. The clear blue sky on Cambodia’s side symbolizes the struggle to solve the conflict peacefully. Whereas the dark sky on the other side symbolizes the struggle to conquer the temple from outsiders. The chain represents the evil attempt to steal our temple. While the thunder on the chain reflects the extreme punishment on the enemies, once we are able to claim back what is rightfully ours. The red pen is symbolic for our Khmer scholars around the Preah Vihear Temple that corporate with UNESCO, which is represented by the blue pen.

Mr. Bunly believes that the nation is prosperous from the arts. “Because of our fine arts, we as a country became more developed.”

UC thanks all the high school students who participated in this event. Remember to never give up in anything you do. The art festival helps to enhance younger generations’ mind about Khmer arts and culture. As well as expose our history.