Beyond Clichés: Mural no. 2
at ULS's Rose Apple Square, Siem Reap
tHE COMMUNE building:
BANDEAT PRATIP
MURAL COMMISSION // APRIL 2, 2024 // C. KEO
Early this year I had the privilege of being commissioned by ULS (Urban Living Solutions), a renowned real estate and lifestyle development company, to create three captivating murals for their groundbreaking new project, a unique complex of co-living and co-working spaces: Rose Apple Square, in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
BRIEFING
For this project it was most important to move beyond the clichés and embrace the true diversity of Cambodian culture. We made a conscious decision to step away from the oversaturated use of Angkor Wats and Apsara imagery.
While these icons are undoubtedly important, Cambodia is a rapidly developing nation, and it’s crucial that we expand our creative palette to reflect this evolution.
This is exactly what I’m aiming for with RYYSA.
CONCEPT
For this particular project the client asked to capture typical Khmer traditions. Keywords like ordinary people, rural, Tonlé Sap and tradition were crucial.
What I’d proposed was to portray a village of little people that could live among us, underneath the plants in our homes, along the streets or wherever there are plants.
The story of all three walls takes place around this village.
Wall dimension: 6.9 x 2.3 m
Behind the Artwork
This scene takes place below the same village. From the first wall on top of the plants we descend to the river, where the bandeat pratips are released.
We see a fisherman with his wife floating down the river in a banana leaf boat. Both provide care to the bandeat pratips.
In the top right corner, on top of the engraved riverbed, a Naga swims through the shallow waters. The engravings refers to the 1000 Lingas, which can be visited in Phnom Kulen in Siem Reap. These elements together with the bandaet pratips contribute to the mystical atmosphere that this mural has.
The tradition of bandeat pratip dates back to the Angkor era. Ordinary people would make a small lotus shaped float from a banana tree trunk and decorate them with banana-leaf-folded-flowers and real flowers. A candle and incense are placed in the middle to set them out on the waters.
A tradition to pay respect to the earth and water goddesses and to ask for the blessing of plentiful crops and harvest.
This led to the creation of the modern-day illuminated boats we see during the water festival in Phnom Penh. Although I see more and more people outside the capital, in the countryside and in Siem Reap, using the traditional version.
I hope we can bring back this tradition and that this mural will contribute to its renaissance in some way.
