SNA Arts Management is set to open Netratuoh (Sightlines), the second solo exhibition by Phnom Penh-based visual artist Prum Ero, on Thursday, June 26.
Through a compelling body of photographic work, experimental sound and projections, the exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the evolving relationship between humans and the natural environment.
The show will run through August 29, with an opening reception scheduled at the Chbar Ampov gallery space for for Thursday, June 26, from 5 to 8 pm.
Prum Ero, born in 1989, is known for his documentary-style approach to photography and video, often grounded in themes of nature, architecture and environmental transition.
His latest exhibition builds on these concerns, showcasing ongoing projects that document rural landscapes and aquatic ecosystems under pressure from human activity.
“The exhibition is divided into three galleries, beginning with Pteah Cham Dei, a photographic series Ero started in 2018,” according to Chum Chanveasna, SNA Arts Management’s founder.
Displayed on large green billboards, these images depict solitary houses scattered across plains and highlands — some appearing abandoned, others temporarily inhabited.
The artist describes these structures as “signals” of land occupation, reflecting both human ambition and the impermanence of rural settlements.
“These houses seem to guard the land,” Ero said, in a statement provided by the gallery. “They show that someone once claimed this space, yet many are temporary — built quickly, abandoned or rebuilt seasonally. It speaks to both ownership and uncertainty.”
Ero’s interest in the intersection of human settlement and environmental transformation continues in Sangket Sakor, a series begun in 2020.
In this work, exhibited in the second and third galleries, the artist shifts his focus to the underwater world.
Photographs of coral reefs — portrayed as natural architectural forms — are accompanied by experimental sound and archival video documentation.
A single line of red-light traces across the coral in several images, symbolising both fragility and boundary.
“Ero observed that coral reefs are beautiful architectural forms created by nature,” said Chanveasna.
“The coral reefs and architectural landscapes form intricate layers within ecosystems.”
When in balance, coral reef environments support biodiversity and human life.
In his work, Prum Ero uses a line of light tracing the coral reef to symbolically highlight the need for greater public awareness and protection of these natural architectures, drawing attention to the environmental impact of human activity on marine ecosystems.
Ero’s visual language blends documentary techniques with a quiet, poetic sensibility. His images avoid overt messaging, instead offering a space for reflection.
This thoughtful approach is evident across his career, which includes prior exhibitions such as Invisible Voices (2020), Bring Forest to the City (2017), and presentations at the Angkor Photo Festival and ASEAN-EU Cultural Festival.
The exhibition’s title, Netratuoh — the reversed spelling of “houtraten” or “sightlines” — hints at the inverted perspectives Ero encourages.
Visitors are prompted to question what is seen, what is overlooked and how shifting geographies alter our collective memory and future.
SNA Arts Management, which is hosting the exhibition at its space in Borey Sambath Mean Heng 3, continues its mission of supporting contemporary Cambodian visual artists.
Founded by Chum Chanveasna, the agency connects local creators with the broader art world through exhibitions, career guidance and international collaboration.
Open from Tuesday to Saturday, 1 to 5 pm, and by morning appointment (10 am – 12 noon), the gallery encourages visitors to engage with the themes of land, identity, and environment that run through Ero’s work. The exhibition is closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays.
