Cambodia is often seen through the lens of two defining historical moments—the grandeur of Angkorian Empire and the haunting scars of the Khmer Rouge era in 1970s. But for Cambodians around the world, a new narrative is unfolding—one of resilience, creativity, and cultural reclamation through history, memory, and art.
The upcoming Acts of Memory is not merely an event for a reflection and commemoration; they are living expressions of resilience, where artists, survivors, elder and younger generations come together to reflect, create, and redefine Cambodian identity for the future. While Season of Cambodia offering an outward-facing vision of Cambodia to the world, Acts of Memory shifts the focus inward, reflecting on Cambodia’s past and present impacting on the diasporas.
Marking 50 Years: A Time to Remember and Connect
April 17 marks a deeply symbolic day for Cambodians across the world. On this day in 1975, the Khmer Rouge officially seized control of Cambodia, ushering in a dark chapter of genocide and displacement. For the Cambodian diaspora, this date is more than a historical marker—it serves as a reminder of a choice they didn’t make but that impacted their lives, as Mr. Prim Phloeun, executive director of Cambodian Living Arts (CLA) said. The early 1980s, following the fall of the Khmer Rouge, saw a mass exodus, with families fled their homeland, scattered across the globe—from the United States and France to Canada, Australia, and beyond.
Fifty years is a significant milestone, our lead curator for the Acts of Memory, Jean-Baptiste Phou, emphasizes the weight of this moment: “It’s half a century. We already have two generations [who have lived with the aftermath of this history]. We want to gather and reflect. But before reflecting, we commemorate.” Jean-Baptiste is also a writer and multidisciplinary artist born in France to Chinese Cambodian parents.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodian Living Arts, in collaboration with community leaders from Cambodia, Australia, France, the USA, and Canada, will host Acts of Memory on April 17 and 26, 2025. This two-day hybrid physical-virtual program will serve as platforms to explore where the diaspora stands today.
A Global Gathering for Glocal Voices, from Six Communities
On the opening day, April 17, 2025, communities across six key locations—Los Angeles, Chicago, Montreal, Paris, Phnom Penh, and Sydney—will share a moment of collective recollection and discuss the significant meaning of this date for their respective communities, followed by six-hour open room for participants to connect, reflect, and commemorate in their own way.
Each participating community will present unique perspectives on how the past continues to shape their present. To conclude the first day, the Cambodian American community in Chicago will host two-hour hybrid program featuring the outcome of a creative ceramic and storytelling workshop, followed by Bangsokol and candlelight ritual. As part of the virtual event, participants are encouraged to have a prop—for example, a lighted candle—as they are invited to simultaneously do the same across different time zones, creating an interactive participation and a powerful visual of unity and remembrance.
“It is a moment for us to connect and acknowledge our presence in different countries,” says Jean Baptiste. “We want to explore about the specificity: How do Khmer in Australia live? How does it differ from Khmer in France or Canada? How do people maintain their cultural heritage, or not? What are their ties to their motherland?”
Cambodian French community will focus on second-generation, many of whom were born in France and have had little connection with Cambodia. “For the first generation, it was about survival,” Jean Baptiste notes. “Their focus was on integrating, securing jobs, and providing for their children. Identity was not their main concern.” By contrast, younger generations are actively seeking to reconnect with their heritage through culture, education, and storytelling. “Their connection is often through art—whether it’s a film, a book, a song, or a performance that sparks their identity quests,” explains Jean Baptise. Acts of Memory will highlight this shift. “Rather than rewriting [history], we are writing the next chapter,” Jean Baptiste reflects. “We remember and commemorate […] but we also ask: 50 years later, where are we?”
The Power of a Shared Space
The real value of celebrating the Acts of Memory lies not just in the event, but in the process of coming together, sharing, and evolving along the way, our executive director Prim Phlouen said.
“I wanted to make it clear that although I think there is sadness around that anniversary, I think all our lives have impacted, and one of the strengths of Cambodian people is their resilience … Therefore, [Acts of Memory] is a moment we are together as Cambodian, either Cambodian American, Cambodian French, Cambodian Australian… we are Cambodian at the heart.”
“How is the life of a Cambodian Australian living in Sydney? Or how is the life of a Cambodian Canadian living in Montreal? How is it different? And do you ask yourself these questions about Cambodia? Do you ask these questions to your family? Have you heard your parents talking about their past?” Phlouen asks.
So, for our readers and participants, this is our opportunity to explore these questions together—a chance to connect, share stories, and gain deeper understanding through meaningful conversations.
A Living, Evolving Culture
Beyond remembrance, the event will also celebrate the cultural renewal that has taken root in recent years. Phlouen describes this as a Cambodian renaissance—a period where the younger generation is reclaiming traditions while also evolving them in new ways.
“Arts and culture are living being. They need to evolve, to inspire, to help us dream about the future. They adapt with time.”
With a diversity of artistic and memorial initiatives taking place across multiple countries, Acts of Memory represents an unprecedented global effort to unify the Cambodian diaspora. As the 50th anniversary approaches, one thing is clear: Cambodians, no matter where they are in the world, are still connected.