Asia Series Vol.5: Trans-fields
BonnPhum
in Tokyo
Curated by Lomorpich Rithy
- Showcasing contemporary Cambodian culture that transcends time and disciplines
- The village festival BonnPhum is held on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and attracts 140,000 mostly young people over three days. The event will now visit Tokyo under the direction of the festival producer Lomorpich Rithy to showcase contemporary culture in Cambodia. With an average age of 24, Cambodia is a nation where youth culture is dominant in society but where the number of people able to pass on its traditional performing arts has rapidly declined due to oppression during the Pol Pot era and the influence of modernism. From a lecture by Lomorpich Rithy to film screenings, music from a popular local band, and traditional dance, the venue atmosphere is like a village in which the old and the new coexist.
Information
| Venue | BUoY Arts Center Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Dates |
11/10 (Sat) 19:00 |
| Running Time | 120 min. (TBC) |
| Language | English and Khmer with consecutive Japanese interpretation |
| Tickets | Advance: ¥3,500 / Same Day: ¥3,500 Students: ¥2,000 / Other tickets available Standing |
|
|---|---|---|
| Early Bird Discount | ￥2,100 | |
| Festival Pass (5 Performances) | ￥2,400 | |
| Festival Pass (3 Performances) | ￥2,600 | |
| Students Student ID required |
￥2,000 | |
| High School Students and Under Student ID or proof of age required |
￥1,000 | |
Tickets
Artist Profiles
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Lomorpich Rithy
Artist, BonnPhum Festival ProducerLomorpich Rithy (aka YoKi Cöcö) is an independent filmmaker and cultural innovator who graduated with a degree in media communication from the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Following time as a director, producer, and writer at BBC Media Action Cambodia, she founded PlerngKob (“campfire”) in 2014. It organizes BonnPhum, a “village festival” that connects the lost traditions of Cambodia with the present. Held in the village of Kandal, 10km south of Phnom Penh, the fifth edition that was held this year attracted around 140,000 people over three days. Lomorpich Rithy believes in the power of storytelling and the arts to inspire and unite people. She has engaged many young arts enthusiasts to work with her on BonnPhum to create and stimulate vibrant cultural and economic activities in Kandal.
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SmallWorld SmallBand
SmallWorld SmallBand creates incredible storytelling music with the aspiration of redefining Cambodian sound. The band scored a big hit with its debut album, 2x5, and has built up a strong following among young Cambodians. The band came together and first entered the national spotlight five years ago with Khmer Flag Song, a patriotic ode to the country. From there, the band amassed a youthful fan base of 175,000 on Facebook. SmallWorld SmallBand is a unique showcase of their generation’s talent, creatively mixing Cambodian traditional instruments and performance like Tro, Roneat, Kong, Mask dance, Yike, and more with modern music and art.
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Sovannaphum Arts Association
Founded in 1994 in Phnom Penh, Sovanna Phum Art Association was established by master puppeteer Mann Kosal to revive Sbek Thom shadow puppetry, an art form lost during the Khmer Rouge regime. Since then, the association has stayed true to his vision of being a platform for young Cambodians to reinstate their cultural heritage and express themselves through art.
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Sophea Chamroeun and Ting Tong
Born and raised in families of traditional musicians and with bachelor degrees in traditional music, these singers incorporate elements of tradition into their pop music. In addition to singing, they also perform in classical theatre like YiKe or Mohari, and direct contemporary plays.
Cast & Creative
| Curated by | Lomorpich Rithy |
|---|---|
| Featuring: |
SmallWorld SmallBand
Sovannaphum Arts Association Sophea Chamroeun Ting Tong D-MAN
|
| Stage Managers: | Song Ki-moon, Kimihiko Mabuchi |
| Sound Coordinator: | Yoshiaki Kondoh (GOK Sound) |
| Lighting: | Takayuki Tomiyama |
| Interpreters: | Tomoko Fukutomi, Kota Fukuhara |
| Photography & Video: | Takashi Fujikawa, Hibiki Miyazawa (Alloposidae) |
| Production Coordinators: | Yuko Takeda, Mayuko Arakawa (Festival/Tokyo) |
| Production Assistants: | Aya Comori, Naho Kato (TASKO) |
| Interns: | Natsu Kimura, Risa Matsumoto, Hinako Miyamoto, Reina Maeda |
| Planned and presented by | Festival/Tokyo |
| Co-organized by | the Japan Foundation Asia Center |
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Venue
BUoY Arts Center Tokyo
- 49-11 Senjunakacho, Adachi-ku, Tokyo
6 minutes’ walk from Exit 1 of Kita-Senju Station on the Tokyo Metro and 8 minutes’ walk from Kita-Senju Station on the JR Joban Line. 7 minutes’ walk from Senjuohashi Station on the Keisei Main Line.