Team Raintree celebrates 10 creatives in our community and beyond whose work inspires kindness, reflection, and social change.

This time two years ago, Team Raintree was going all out, celebrating our love for photography and architecture outdoors, touring some of the finest New Khmer Architecture in Phnom Penh. Unfortunately we don't have as much luck this year with Covid still lingering. Following months of inactive social calendars and more time on our hands, Team Raintree find ourselves spending just a bit more time than usual on social media - but soon realise these platforms aren’t always keeping us inspired.

*Photos: Neak Sophal + Thomas Cristofoletti*

To satisfy our craving for authentic, interesting work and to mark World Photography Day this month, Team Raintree set forth to curate a list of creatives in our community who are churning out images we can scroll through for days. For a much needed dose of inspiration, join us from wherever you are in the world to explore the works of bold photographers in Cambodia that show how this medium holds the power to open our minds, and celebrate humanity in unexpected ways.

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Siv Serey

Serey is a Cambodian-Canadian curator and visual artist, whose body of work challenges Cambodian history and culture. Having lived in Montreal, Seoul, Tokyo, Phnom Penh and now Siem Reap, he uses art as a vehicle to interrogate heritage and customs. In projects such as Language Barrier and Mama, Serey explored what it means to be Cambodian and how his mum, despite taking refuge in Canada for over two decades, still holds great respect for her Cambodian heritage. The critically acclaimed artist also investigates wider contemporary social issues such as addiction, having featured in international publications such as Wallpaper*.

W: sereysiv.portfoliobox.net

Khvay Samnang

Born in Svay Rieng in 1982, Samnang is a prolific artist who uses photography, sculpture, and installation to explore aesthetics and evolving aspects of Cambodian society. His works are eclectic and eccentric, touching on vastly different subjects from traditional rituals such as Khmer weddings, to socially significant moments like the demolition of the White Building. Team Raintree had the chance to see some of his works up close in 2019 @ Treeline Urban Resort at their 'Ti Prasap' exhibition. "In the face of inequities, I evoke possibilities for action - on both individual and communal levels," the artist writes in his statement, solidifying his commitment for social movement.

W: khvaysamnang.com

*Photo: ‘Preah Kunlong’ by Khvay Samnang*

Kim Hak

"There are other reasons for one to be out on the street after 12AM besides poverty, I learnt one night when I was walking home after a party. Those reasons range from disability to homosexuality," the award-winning photographer and author writes in his 'After 12' gallery statement.

While his subjects range from architecture to history, what we appreciate most about his photographs are their ability to capture vulnerability and candour. Born in 1981, just two years after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime, he grew up listening to his parents, siblings and relatives' stories from that period. Inspired, he now uses his art to remember, reclaim and reinterpret Cambodian history from before, during and after the Khmer Rouge era.

W: kimhak.com

Neak Sophal

Sophal was 20 when she encountered for the first time that photography can be a medium to tell stories. A decade later, she has established herself as one of the most promising photographers in Cambodia. In her aspiration to deconstruct cultural narratives through art, her work looks at women's role in Cambodia's society, and suppressed memories. She also explores other subjects such as climate change.

With Raintree being a home to many architects who aspire to contribute to Cambodia's urban landscape, we're drawn to projects that are related to design and architecture. Naturally, 'Green Net', a photography exhibition struck a chord. In this project, she and her partner bring to life the typically unseen, back-breaking working conditions of 13 female constructions workers in Phnom Penh, reminding us that while progresses have been made, there is still so much more to be done to improve the working conditions of construction workers.

W: neaksophal.com

Philong Sovan

Sovan enlightens - literally. From motorbike headlights to laptop screens, this reporting photographer is famous for his ability to use unconventional light sources to spotlight darker realities in Cambodia. His works have been featured in the prestigious British Journal of Photography, and taken home awards from the Angkor Photo Festival.

The collection that particularly moved us were his 2010 photograph series, depicting the typically unseen livelihoods of tourism workers in Siem Reap. Although these were taken from a little over a decade ago, during times like now where the pandemic has decimated the tourism industry, we cannot help but feel that the photographs continue to depict the realities of service industry workers today.

FB: Sovan Philong

*Photo: ‘In the City by Night’ by Philong Sovan*

Tytaart

Working under her alias Tytaart, friend of Raintree Tyta Buth is an emerging artist and photographer who aspires to create art that blurs the line between concrete and abstract reality. The 24-year-old photographer has exhibited her works in art galleries across Cambodia in addition to her freelance work as a conceptual portraitist and commercial food photographer. Her work touches diverse poignant subjects, from sexuality to disability. In her 'Disability to Visibility' exhibition earlier this year, she challenged the concept of ableism by celebrating individuals in Cambodia who, through courage and perseverance, were able to lead meaningful lives in spite of physical challenges.

W: tytaphotography.com | IG: @tytaart

*Photos left to right: ‘Russian Roulife’, ‘On Body Positivity’ and ‘Organic Senses’ by Tytaart*

Ly Min

Award-winning amateur photographer Ly Min is an entrepreneur by day, and photographer by night. Light and shadow are his two instruments in photography. He is most widely known for 'Cave of Skulls', a series showing a monk changing his robe in a cave during the Kathina buddhist festival. The emotive photograph shot in this striking setting, earned him a place in the top 50 in the world in Open Travel Category in Sony World Photography Awards in 2018.

(BONUS: From the same competition series, see below the striking black-and-white empty cinema shot amidst Covid, that earned Cambodian college senior Sean Channal a National Award from the Sony World Photography 2021.)

Shunsuke Miyatake

Since 2016, Shunsuke has been trekking through Phnom Penh on this journey to meet strangers and discover their life purpose or ‘ikigai’. In a new world that seems like everything is online, he aspires to capture small, beautiful moments in everyday life that cannot otherwise be found on the internet, publishing them digitally to spark dialogue and make them accessible to all. Following the lives of whoever catches his attention, be it a P.E. teacher, a director of photography, to veteran coffee maker, Shunsuke brings these stories to life in an intimate way through his passion for visual storytelling.

Earlier this year Shunsuke partnered with Raphael Pech and Daniel Eang to kick off Art4Food, a creative campaign where artists in Cambodia and beyond can post their work for sale, with all proceeds raised donated directly to sustain the livelihoods of cyclo drivers. To date, they have reported raising over $15,000 and delivered over 7,000 meals to those in need.

W: casadetake.com | IG: @casadetake

*Photos: Beauty in every day life by Shunsuke Miyatake*

Thomas Cristofoletti

If you follow our social media or have read our previous feature on 5 Everyday Objects Transformed Into Design Wonders, you will know that Team Raintree is absolutely a fan of Thomas' work!

Previously based in Phnom Penh, this photojournalist and peers at Ruom Collective have been visually reporting in Southeast Asia for the last ten years. Beyond capturing current affairs such as the viral 'Death of a King' series, he also covers other less-reported topics such as how Cambodia's first transgender boxer fought and found belonging. With commissions from global broadcasters and publishers, he has tackled some really challenging narratives, contributing to critical conversations about climate change, modern slavery and much more.

W: thomascristofoletti.com | IG: @thomas_cristofoletti

*Photo: ‘Death of a King’ by Thomas Cristofoletti*

Taing Hao

Born and raised in Phnom Penh, the 21-year-old business student is best known for his growing initiatives for cyclo driver uncles in Cambodia during the pandemic! When Hao is not at Raintree, he taps into his passion to help those in need alongside photography.

Through his food drive initiative called Local4Local, he ensured that over 800 families in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Poi Pet wouldn't go hungry during the lockdown. In his Cyclo Pantry project, he invites those who are privileged and underprivileged to "take what you need, donate what you can".

In his aspirations to sustain cyclo drivers' jobs, he has also organised cyclo tours around the city. Most recently, Hao unveiled The Futuristic Cyclo Art Competition, where he calls youths to join him reimagine the future of cyclo. If you’re interested, be sure to apply before 15th August 2021 on his partner site here.

IG: @haotaingg

*Photos: Power Rangers inspired cyclo pantries and artist by Taing Hao*

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In a year marked with extreme social challenge around the world, Team Raintree is inspired to see how people in our community are using their voice to change the world. In honour of the upcoming World Photography Day in August, Team Raintree will continue to celebrate these creatives and their work across our social media platforms. If you're hungry for more features related to photography, dive into our last post to learn more about our love for photography and Cambodia's architecture. In the meantime, check out our Instagram at @raintreecambodia to get more inspiring stories about people and places delivered to your feed every day.