News

• 07 April, 2023
• Posted by: EuroCham Cambodia

This week we met with the recently formed arts committee of the Italian-Cambodian Business Association (ICBA). The committee is composed of Gabriele Faja, director of Soundskool Music Cambodia and 2023 production director of the Cambodia Opera Project, who oversees the music section of the committee; Alessandro Mangano, a partner at Architectural Engineering Consultants, manages the architecture and design section; and Carlo Santoro, associate professor of architecture at American University Phnom Penh, ICBA's vice-president, and founder of Metaestetica Lab, who is in charge of the visual arts section.

Read on to find out what the committee has already accomplished and learn about their wider vision for using art as a vehicle to inspire action and cultural exchange.

EuroCham: Can you tell us a little bit about the ICBA Arts Committee? What led to its formation and what is its goal?

Carlo: After joining the ICBA as an individual member last year and after the chapter's board was established, I discussed with Alessandro and Gabriele the need to form an Arts Committee by combining our expertise to foster a synergy between Italian cultural values -finally represented in Cambodia- and Eurocham's growing business agenda.

We noticed a deep fragmentation in the art sector and contemporary art culture in Cambodia and had ndividually received many requests for support for artists in the community and to organize art-related events or projects. We decided, then, to organize the ART Committee with no leading figure, since the idea is to have each of us handle a specific area of the arts; me with visual arts and film, Alessandro with architecture and design, and Gabriele with music and concerts. We hope that our actions can contribute to those conducted by the Local Authorities in promoting art events beyond the traditional cultural and art sectors.

Alessandro: Our vision is to bring people together to inspire new ideas and collaboration, and we're committed to supporting local artists and encouraging cultural diversity. We also want to create a stronger connection to arts with the local community and strengthen the connection with the international arts community.

Gabriele: The rich cultural heritage we all absorbed in Italy provides intellectual legitimacy to curate projects within the arts, as Italy influenced Europe and the world well beyond its national boundaries. Highlighting and discussing those influences not only provides ample artistic and educational material, but grants the possibility to explore further influences in Cambodia and in the region. That’s why we started the Arts Committee.

What has the committee been involved in since it formed in January?

Carlo:  In just three months since the establishment of the Arts Committee, we have organized and supported nearly a dozen events, which can all be found on our Facebook page. Among the most significant ones, I would like to mention here the Italian Design Day (IDD 2023) with the Italian Embassy in Bangkok, the Piano & Voix Recital with the Institut Français du Cambodge, and the European Film Festival 2023 (EUFF 2023) Gala Night with the European Union and the Cambodia-German Center Meta House. Currently, part of the 100sqm installation that was used for the EUFF 2023, A-N-T-O-P-I-A Phnom Penh, is on display at Seekers Spirits.

Alessandro: Italy has the most design firms in Europe, some 31,000 strong with 65,000 workers. It’s an industry worth 3 billion euros. There has been a push to promote this design, as it is so important to Italian culture. This is in line with the national branding campaign Be IT, an Italian government initiative to showcase products Made in Italy across the world.

Our vision and efforts are aligned with Be IT. For Italian Design Day (IDD 2023) – in addition to our gathering at Vespa Cambodia – we were broadcast live to an audience in Bangkok to share what we’ve been working on in Cambodia. We hosted a successful ITALIAN DESIGN DAY in Phnom Penh, an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy and Italian Trade Agency and supported by Embassy of Italy in Bangkok.

Carlo: This year IDD2023 proposed the theme, "Quality that Illuminates." I was invited by Alexander, who organized the event, to present my concept design adopted for the renovation of the Phnom Penh Royal Railway Station. The project focused on articulating the lighting of the exterior façade and creating wide interior perspectives to highlight the exceptional modernist structure of the station today in the heart of Phnom Penh's Central Business District.

What can we look forward to in the future from the committee?

Gabriele: On the musical side, in December this year we’ll be staging an entire Opera, Madama Butterfly, which will be held at Koh Pich Theatre. The famous opera composed by Italian Giacomo Puccini and set in Japan, will be our musical centerpiece in celebrating Italy’s contribution to the world of Opera, as well as the 70th anniversary of relations between Cambodia and Japan.

In addition, the 2023 Piano Trilogy Series will be hosted at Meta House, one on May 20 and one on June 17.

The idea behind the event is simple - one grand piano, three pianists, 20 minutes each. It’s a kind of Ted Talk (or Nerd Night) except we’re using a piano as the medium of expression. The program is open, but pianists are required to either improvise or play from memory.

Why is it important to you to promote arts/cultural exchange between Italy and Cambodia?

Carlo: It’s interesting what art can do in specific conditions and at events. Injecting business events with art content can bear great results. From a business perspective, arts are seen as an awareness-raiser, but if we look at contemporary art panorama, nowadays it goes further than that. It stimulates people to engage and participate, instead of just observing, and this can help promote commercial enterprises. Ultimately, you want people to embrace the concept proposed by your product, and art can facilitate this process.

Gabriele: Cambodia is currently focused on building infrastructure and the service industry, completely in keeping with Maslow’s ‘Hierarchy of Needs’. We’re starting from the top of the pyramid in attempting to develop Creativity and Spontaneity. I believe the arts are crucial in shaping culture, sculpturing values, and empowering intellectual capacity. With this in mind, we are excited to collaborate and work with partners to make this a reality.

What are some of the attributes of Italian culture/design you’d like to introduce or promote more in Cambodia?

Carlo: There is a certain lifestyle that is implied for many Italian products, like a Vespa. The possibility of associating a particular conceptual meaning to an object can be extended to any product. We do not necessarily intend to promote the Italian lifestyle, but we are interested in supporting this way of conceiving business, typical of Italy, which associates a meaningful message with each product.

Alessandro: Italian design is renowned for its elegance, creativity, and functionality. In Cambodia, we aim to introduce and promote key attributes of Italian design, such as the intricate craftsmanship and attention to detail that sets it apart from others. By emphasizing the importance of quality materials and innovative design solutions, we hope to inspire local designers and businesses to incorporate these characteristics in their own creations.

The fusion between Italian and European design with Cambodian culture has the potential to innovate the local design scene and create totally unique aesthetics.

Carlo: Italy shares some common cultural traits with Cambodia. Both Italy and Cambodia stretch back millennia. Embracing our traditions will lead to innovations for the future.

Alessandro: Collaboration and appreciation of each other’s culture, cultural contributions can greatly enrich the global artistic community and empower social and economic development for both Italy and Cambodia.

There are endless opportunities for collaboration and understanding each others history and tradition. We are not here to teach or lecture, it’s a kind of exploring, sharing, and seeking to understand.