“I am honoured and humbled to be part of this inaugural edition of SEA AiR program. The holistic supporting structure of a residency and an exhibition is vital for artists like me to further my artistic practice and career. I am very grateful for this unique opportunity, which will allow me to develop a new research project, build a new network in Europe, and create a new body of work. I look forward to spending time at Villa Arson in France. I will research the colonial and recent histories of urban planning and architecture between France and Cambodia and how they shape our understanding of political topography, urban physiology, and social structure. I am also planning to connect and exchange with some artist collectives and artist-initiated projects in France.”
Vuth Lyno
During the residency, Lyno will explore the entangled histories of colonialism, modernisation, and urbanisation focusing on the Garden of Tropical Agronomy, located in the Bois de Vincennes, one of the largest public parks in Paris which hosted the International Colonial Exposition in 1931. The exposition featured several architectural representations of the colonies, including Cambodia and Indochina, the remnants of which are still extant today surrounded by modern facilities. The artist is interested in excavating the politics of the built environment to understand the historical role architecture has played in the construction of imperialist agendas and the lingering implications of colonial symbolism and power structures in the present.
Find out more about SEA AiR.
