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 Khmer Rouge dictatorship, the Cambodian genocide, and the Cambodian-Vietnamese war.
Dina Chhan was born in Phnom Penh and spent her early years in a refugee camp in Poipet, a town near the Cambodian border with Thailand.[1] 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.[2] 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.[2] Today, Dina continues to live and work in Phnom Penh, where she operates her own gallery.[3]
Career
Dina is one of the few female artists on Cambodia's contemporary arts scene.[4] She participated in the Cambodian Living Arts Fellows Programme in 2016.[1] She received the CLMTV Contemporary Art Awards at Mahasarakham University in Thailand.[5] 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.[6] 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.[6] She has taught visual art to children in orphanages and schools.[7] In early 2022, she has opened her own gallery.[3]
Themes
Dina's themes include exploring women's roles and experiences.[8] She also explores themes of nature and wildlife.[9] Her exhibition entitled "On the Verge of Extinction" focused on endangered bird species in Cambodia.[10] "Drawing the Golden Thread" was shown at the Intercontinental hotel and focused on the beauty of Cambodia's nature.[11] 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.[12] Translating this into art, each piece features fauna of the rainforest revealing themselves amidst their hyperstimulating environment.[13]
Dina also focuses on Cambodia’s recent history and recovery after its civil war and the Khmer Rouge dictatorship. In her youth, she was inspired by the ongoing issues of land mines throughout the country, which were planted during the long period of war in the 1970s and 1980s.[2] Many of her works take inspiration from the fear and devastation caused by unexploded ordnance. In deliberate reference to the violence of the 1970s, Dina often uses psychedelic colors in her paintings.[2] 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.[14] She was also nominated for the ASEAN Women of the Future Awards in 2018.[3]
Exhibitions
Dina has led or participated in multiple exhibitions, most them of in Phnom Penh:[2][6][14]
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
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