The Phnom Penh Photography Collective, a group of talented photographers based in Phnom Penh, has announced their first group exhibition, Humans of Phnom Penh.
The exhibition promises to be a captivating display of Phnom Penh’s people and culture, captured through the lenses of around 40 talented photographers.
“We are excited to finally have our first group exhibition. Phnom Penh has such a dynamic range of people from all over Cambodia and the world,” said Shunsuke Miyatake, the founder of the collective.
“We hope to show the diversity of our city and capture the unique perspectives of its inhabitants. We’re thrilled to collaborate with WILD Phnom Penh and PSE Film School to create an open and friendly space for our exhibition,” he added.
Miyatake said the photographers interviewed at least one person they met on the street while taking portraits of them, with the goal of capturing unique perspectives of the city’s inhabitants.
The exhibition is set to run from April 30 to May 31, at WILD Phnom Penh, a garden bar and eatery, located near the capital’s lively Basaac Lane entertainment quarter.
“The collective is basically just a group of people who joined the Phnom Penh photo walk organised by the group, but we always welcome like-minded photo lovers,” said Miyatake.
The collective organises monthly themed photo walks and showcases interesting perspectives from participants on their digital channels.
They also plan to host workshops and interviews with some of the capital’s most well-known photographers, and aim to expand their community to include videographers, designers, journalists, illustrators, and all kinds of creators as a “Phnom Penh Creative Collective”.
“Professional or amateur doesn’t matter, what is important is a passion or capturing images. Digital, analogue, or even phone camera, we welcome everyone,” said Miyatake.
Phnom Penh has a dynamic range of people from all over the world, he added, and there are many photo communities, but they are mainly focused on competitions, most of which are exclusively for competitive photographers with decent cameras.
“We would like to fill in the gap. We want to include everyone – locals or expats, young or old, women or men – with a passion to share the diverse, unique, and unseen perspectives of the people of Phnom Penh,” he continued.
The Collective chose to work with WILD Phnom Penh as they offer an open and friendly space for the exhibition. In addition, the collective will encourage visitors to make small donations to PSE Film School to support future generations of photographers and video makers.
“PSE’s mission aligns with the collective’s values. We want to provide educational and vocational opportunities for Cambodian children living in poverty,” Miyatake told The Post.
Pour un Sourire d’Enfant is an organisation with a mission to rescue children from poverty and provide them with skills and opportunities to attain well-paid work.
It offers individualised educational programmes to Cambodian children in need, focusing on six key areas: education, food, healthcare, protection, vocational training, and family assistance.
Over the past 26 years, the organisation has helped 12,500 children access education and training to prepare them for professional careers.
Admission to the exhibition is free, but donations are encouraged.
Through more upcoming events and activities, the collective hopes to grow further.
“We’re not just a photography collective, but a community of creatives. We want to create a platform for everyone to share their unique perspectives and connect with like-minded people. We hope to inspire others to explore their creativity and grow together,” Miyatake concluded.
