Her Sounds: A Collaborative Multimedia Exhibition on Cambodian Women Artists in Theory and Practice

Past Events

“សូរស្ត្រី”

Public Lecture Description

“សូរស្ត្រី | Her Sounds” is a collaborative multimedia research project and exhibition aiming to explore these dichotomies while celebrating the passion, persistence, and power of Cambodia’s women artists through image, sound, and story. Featuring artist portraits by photographer Neak Sophal and accompanying sound pieces created from interviews with ethnomusicologist Emily Howe, the exhibition con- structs a living archive of the signiﬁcant contributions women artists make to Cambodian society. Showcasing the artistry of traditional, classical, popular, and contemporary musicians and dancers while also illuminating the social signiﬁcance of practices including social dance, ritual chant, and lullaby, the exhibition aims to spark dialogue about the art, lives, and dreams of Cambodian women.

In this presentation, Emily Howe will ﬁrst theorize the importance of sound and music as a means of documenting and understanding women’s lives, as well as cultural continuity and change across generations. She will then take listeners behind the scenes of the project’s genesis and production, sharing data and preliminary conclusions as well as challenges and pitfalls of the project. Finally, she will argue for the practical and theoretical potential of collaborative, public-oriented research projects such as “សូរស្ត្រី | Her Sounds.” Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to explore the exhibition at Mirage Contemporary Art Space.

Biography

Ms. Emily Howe is a CKS Senior Fellow and an American ethnomusicologist, music educator, and conductor. Currently a PhD Candidate in Ethnomusicology at Boston University, Emily’s dissertation examines the politics of development and social change in contemporary Cambodia through analysis of music and dance practices.

Emily is passionate about making meaningful musical experiences accessible to all who might want them and has led ensembles and projects in schools, community music centers, prisons, and houses of worship in her hometown of Boston and around the world. Emily has authored publications, given presentations, and taught university courses on topics related to music education, choral music, and world music cultures, and she continues to explore issues related to global repertoires, performance, and identity in her scholarly and creative practice. For more information, visit www.emilyhowe.info.

Public Exhibition Opens at 6 pm on Friday, August 23, 2019

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the publications and through webinars are solely those of the authors or speakers. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Center for Khmer Studies, Inc. The designations employed in the publications and through the webinars, and the presentation of material therein, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of The Center for Khmer Studies, Inc. as to the matters discussed therein. The responsibility for opinions expressed in the publications and webinars are solely those of the authors or speakers, and the publication does not constitute an endorsement by The Center for Khmer Studies, Inc. of the opinions, views or issues discussed therein.