Artist Statement
Escape the Abyss
By the end of 1979, the lives of 2 million Cambodians had been taken away by the Khmer Rouge terrorist organization. My grandmother was amongst them. The Khmer Rouge believed that everybody must be equal, with no one above anyone else. Those who were educated, such as doctors, teachers, or engineers, were to be killed. Everyone living in the city was ordered to evacuate their homes and march far into the countryside, experiencing the struggles of rural life. This marked the beginning of Year Zero.
Fortunately, my family survived this nightmare. They held onto hope and believed they could endure the pain and torture, stay strong and ultimately survive. While I haven’t personally experienced what my family went through, I am immensely grateful for them. If they had given up, I wouldn’t be here now to share this experience through my artwork.
All four pieces are done entirely in India ink and fine liner. Dutch-Canadian painter, Cornelius Krieghoff, was my inspiration. Directly mirroring his depiction of life in Quebec onto my depictions of life in Cambodia. My goal was to magnify and contrast the horrors my family faced before finding refuge in Canada.
I chose to work in the traditional medium because mistakes cannot be undone, much like the choices we make in life. Whether good or bad, every path we take defines who we are in the present. We learn and grow from every experience we face. Never forget where you came from, never forget your goals, and adapt to everything you encounter. That is the meaning behind this series.