“Sala Samnak” introduces new works of light installation and paintings by Vuth Lyno created with Kong Siden, Prum Ero and Than Sok. It explores a traditional communal space that exists throughout Cambodia: Sala samnak, a rest hall. Sala samnak is part of the fabric of the daily life of Cambodia, and its presence is symbolic of the Cambodian countryside. They are usually modest structures built on the roadside or in the village for passersby and visitors. In some cases, villagers use it for communal ceremonies or events. This practice dates back at least to before the Angkorian period.
The ancient name of this structure, ‘agni gRha’, translates into house of fire, and possibly refers to the rituals to the divine which took place in it. Today however, some sala samnak structures become neglected and abandoned. Their primordial function, that of offering a rest place for the passersby and travelers, is replaced by modern cafes and restaurants built along the roadside.
In “Sala Samnak,” Lyno is interested in the cultural and social functions of the rest hall and the evolution of its communal function. In one such use, villagers interact and create communal relations through rituals, which take place in the structure. On the other hand, visitors, and strangers may meet and rest together as they commute along their respective journeys. These social relations and chances of an encounter are made possible under sala samnak, which is usually generously built by the villagers. “Sala Samnak” illustrates the precarious state of these structures and their social, ungraspable aspects.
The neon-light installation suspended in the gallery space is otherworldly and reflects a country grasping onto its traditions whilst experiencing rapid economic and social development. This dream-like quality, produced by the radiating blue light, creates an unearthly experience that only appears after dark. The semi-immateriality and fragility of the structure hints at the uneven relevance of sala samnak today. Without the visitors, the sala samnak loses its purpose and simply becomes an empty space.
Every visit to the space is different and it is shaped by the individual encounters of passersby who will give it its ultimate meaning. Therefore, over the duration of the exhibition at MIRAGE, six paintings of glowing rest halls, represented by six black voids, will be appearing one by one. This ensures that the transient nature and changing character of these ‘rest halls’ will be reflected.
Project Scope: planning and curation of exhibition, in collaboration with The MIRAGE Collective