'In Between Breaths' brings together a powerful collection of images created by Eleonore Sok, both as a performer and in collaboration with other performance artists including New Cambodian Artists and Eric Ellul. Supplied
In Between Breaths by Sok Eleonore, an exhibition which is currently on display at Java Creative Café Toul Tom Poung, offers visitors a compelling journey into the human experience through the lens of performance and visual art.
Running from November 20 to January 10, the show is a part of the 15th edition of the Photo Phnom Penh Festival, one of Southeast Asia’s high-profile photography events.
Eleonore, a French-Cambodian artist who has called Cambodia home since 2015, is renowned for her transdisciplinary approach, blending photography, performance and body art to explore themes of femininity, memory, desire and the subtle intersection of personal and collective histories.
In Between Breaths showcases Eleonore’s unique exploration of the human body as both a physical and psychological vessel, capturing moments of tension, vulnerability and strength, drawn from her intimate understanding of the in-betweenness of existence.
At the heart of her work lies the act of breathing – a seemingly simple yet profoundly human gesture that connects mind and body.
In her exhibition, the breath symbolises both the tension of life’s complexities and the moments of stillness in between.
“The work of Eleonore situates itself in that moment, while holding on to the tension that arises between knowing and not knowing,” said the festival’s organisers.
“As viewers, we are immersed in moments charged with immediacy and compulsion. Like taking a deep breath, winding a coil tighter and tighter, or drawing an arrow back on its bowstrings - energy converges - it feels dangerous and exciting,” they added.
Seeds and Sap, part of ‘In Between Breaths’, is a series of performative images conceived and produced in collaboration with New Cambodian Artists (NCA), a dancer trio of young Cambodian women, in 2019 and 2020. Supplied
This energy, while physically present in her photographic work, is also something viewers must inhabit mentally, holding their breath as they linger in the tension of the unknown.
A key element of Eleonore’s artistic process is the merging of performance and photography, a partnership that allows her to create images that capture the fleeting, physical embodiment of thought and emotion.
As both a performer and a photographer, Eleonore uses the human body to convey concepts of identity and transformation.
Through her collaboration with contemporary dancers and performance artists, the images become more than just photographs — they become an exploration of self-expression and societal expectations.
One of the most powerful series in the exhibition is her work with the New Cambodian Artists, a contemporary dance troupe with whom she has created a series titled Seeds and Sap.
“Seeds and Sap was part of an itinerary exhibition at the triennial Art Nomad “Natte, Nappes” in France (2021). It was exhibited at the Indian Photo Festival (2023) and Photo Phnom Penh festival (2023),” according to Eleonore’s bio.
Through the interplay of body, memory and playfulness, Eleonore invites us to inhabit a space where vulnerability meets strength. Supplied
Through dynamic body movements, Eleonore captures not just the strength of her subjects but their inherent vulnerability, expressing the complex interplay of tradition and change in contemporary Cambodia.
Eleonore’s art is deeply rooted in her own experiences as a journalist and artist who has worked extensively in Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia.
Her writing, photography, and documentary work, including the 2019 essay Cambodgiens, have long focused on the complexities of Cambodian identity, societal structures, and the interplay of historical memory with modern life.
The In Between Breaths exhibition at Java Creative Café invites the viewer to linger in moments of tension and reflection, just as the breath lingers between inhale and exhale.
As part of the Photo Phnom Penh Festival, the exhibition contributes to the broader conversation on the role of photography in capturing and questioning societal changes.
In the series, Eleonore invited performers to explore her obsessions; fragmented identity, in-betweenness and disturbing strangeness. Supplied
Eleonore’s work, alongside other featured artists, reflects the growing recognition of photography as a powerful tool for exploring identity, heritage, and the transformative power of art in the Southeast Asian context.
For those in Phnom Penh seeking an introspective and evocative artistic experience, In Between Breaths offers a chance to pause, hold one’s breath, and dwell in the spaces in between, where the truth is quietly revealed.
The 15th Photo Phnom Penh Festival continues to celebrate Cambodia’s vibrant photographic arts with a range of exhibitions and events, providing a platform for both local and international artists.
