Chhan Dina
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Chhan Dina (born 1984) is a Cambodian painter and sculptor known for her works that delve into themes of nature, wildlife, and the human experience. Her art reflects Cambodia's cultural heritage and the country's ongoing journey of recovery and growth after the
Cambodian Civil War The Cambodian Civil War (, Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ) was a civil war in Cambodia fought between the Communist Party of Kampuchea (known as the Khmer Rouge, supported by North Vietnam and China) against the government of the Ki ...
, the
Khmer Rouge The Khmer Rouge is the name that was popularly given to members of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), and by extension to Democratic Kampuchea, which ruled Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. The name was coined in the 1960s by Norodom Sihano ...
dictatorship, the
Cambodian genocide The Cambodian genocide was the systematic persecution and killing of Cambodian citizens by the Khmer Rouge under the leadership of Pol Pot. It resulted in the deaths of 1.5 to 2 million people from 1975 to 1979, nearly 25% of Cambodia's populati ...
, and the Cambodian-Vietnamese war.


Life

Dina Chhan was born in
Phnom Penh Phnom Penh is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Cambodia, most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since 1865 and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its political, economic, industr ...
and spent her early years in a refugee camp in
Poipet Poipet ( ) is a city on the Cambodian– Thai border, in Poipet Municipality, Banteay Meanchey Province. It is a key crossing point between the two countries, and also extremely popular as a gambling destination as gambling is popular, but ...
, a town near the Cambodian border with
Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
. This area is rich in natural beauty but contains hidden landmines and has influenced her perception of the world. As a child, she crafted toys from clay, showcasing an innate artistic talent. Her family later relocated to Phnom Penh, where she encountered Ron Remen, a charity worker who recognized her potential and provided foundational training in sculpting and drawing. Today, Dina continues to live and work in Phnom Penh, where she operates her own gallery.


Career

Dina is one of the few female artists on Cambodia's contemporary arts scene. She participated in the Cambodian Living Arts Fellows Programme in 2016. She received the CLMTV Contemporary Art Awards at
Mahasarakham University Mahasarakham University (MSU; ; , ''pronounced:'' má-hăa wít-tá-yaa-lai má-hăa-săa-rá-kaam) is a Thai public university in Maha Sarakham province, about 470 kilometres from Bangkok. In 2017 it enrolled 39,000 students. MSU is the only ...
in Thailand. In 2021, Dina had an exhibition by the name of "Fly No Fear" at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, where she exhibited environmental themes in an to raise awareness about the importance of preserving natural habitats. Dina's work has gained international attention, leading to exhibitions in countries such as Australia, Colombia, France, the United States, China, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. She has taught visual art to children in orphanages and schools. In early 2022, she has opened her own gallery.


Themes

Dina's themes include exploring women's roles and experiences. She also explores themes of nature and wildlife. Her exhibition entitled "On the Verge of Extinction" focused on endangered bird species in Cambodia. "Drawing the Golden Thread" was shown at the Intercontinental hotel and focused on the beauty of Cambodia's nature. Generally, she remarks that ideas for her works spawn when she takes excursions in her local rainforests, noting the haphazardly vibrant gestalt that unfolds as one walks further into the abyss of Cambodian verdure. Translating this into art, each piece features fauna of the rainforest revealing themselves amidst their hyperstimulating environment. Dina also focuses on Cambodia’s recent history and recovery after its
civil war A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
and the
Khmer Rouge The Khmer Rouge is the name that was popularly given to members of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), and by extension to Democratic Kampuchea, which ruled Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. The name was coined in the 1960s by Norodom Sihano ...
dictatorship. In her youth, she was inspired by the ongoing issues of
land mines A land mine, or landmine, is an explosive weapon often concealed under or camouflaged on the ground, and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets as they pass over or near it. Land mines are divided into two types: anti-tank mines, whi ...
throughout the country, which were planted during the long period of war in the 1970s and 1980s. Many of her works take inspiration from the fear and devastation caused by
unexploded ordnance Unexploded ordnance (UXO, sometimes abbreviated as UO) and unexploded bombs (UXBs) are explosive weapons (bombs, shell (projectile), shells, grenades, land mines, naval mines, cluster munition, and other Ammunition, munitions) that did not e ...
. In deliberate reference to the violence of the 1970s, Dina often uses psychedelic colors in her paintings. Dina’s expression of the impact of war often intersects with the experiences of women and natural landscapes.


Awards

Dina won the Young Artists Award from CLMTV Contemporary Art in 2015. She was also nominated for the ASEAN Women of the Future Awards in 2018.


Exhibitions

Dina has led or participated in multiple exhibitions, most them of in Phnom Penh: * 2005: International Cultural Exhibition; Siem Reap, Cambodia * 2006: Wildlife Conservation Society; Cambodia * 2009: IMPACT: An art exhibition about landmines in Cambodia, United Nations; New York, USA * 2010: You Khin Memorial Women's Art Prize, Cambodia * 2010: ''Across the Line''; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2010: ''The Art of Dirt''; Denver, Colorado, USA * 2011: Java Arts Exhibition; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2011: Peace Exhibition; Siem Reap, Cambodia * 2012: ''The Plantation Gallery'', Cambodian Mask Project; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2012: Meta House; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2013: Equinox Exhibition; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2014: Meta House Exhibition; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2014: Intercontinental Hotel; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2015: Intercontinental Hotel; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2017: Dina Chhan & Frederikke Tu at Intercontinental; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2017: ''On the Verge of Extinction'', Inside Gallery Intercontinental; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2018: Takakazu Yamada & Dina Chhan at Plantation; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2019: Kbach Art Gallery; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2020: Plantation Hotel and Palace Gate Hotel; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2021: ''Fly No Fear'', Project Sofitel Hotel; Phnom Penh, Cambodia * 2022: The Chhan Dina Gallery; Phnom Penh, Cambodia


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chhan, Dina 1984 births Living people 21st-century women artists Cambodian artists People from Phnom Penh