Artists Nout Daro and Thun Dina have reunited after several years to present “VARY”, a compelling new exhibition at the Rosewood Phnom Penh gallery. The collection is an intimate exploration of personal change and societal shifts, inspired by their shared reflections on childhood memories and how those foundational moments continue to shape their adult lives.
The idea for the exhibition emerged from a simple conversation between the two Cambodian artists, revisiting their early experiences and comparing them to the present day.
“Daro and I met up and talked about how things had changed since we were children. We compared them to now,” explained Dina, who has contributed 20 paintings to the collection.
What began as a nostalgic exchange quickly evolved into a deeper recognition of the contrasting realities between past and present — not just in their own lives, but also within Cambodian society and the environment. This sense of constant fluidity, driven by time and circumstance, became the driving force behind their collaboration.
Shared Vision, Distinct Styles
Despite having different artistic approaches, the artists found common ground in their shared ambition and thematic focus.
“We thought that we should do an exhibition about change,” Dina explained. “Because we have different styles, but we have the same goal.”
He elaborated on their collective ambition: “Let’s say that he and I want to become recognised artists. This is the same goal. We also decided that it was okay to put the theme of Vary, that is, we try to change to get better and better at our goal.”
The collection’s title, ‘VARY’, embodies this spirit of transformation, speaking to memory, movement and the passage of time, as well as the inherent diversity of life’s experiences.
Dina also offered an insight into the meaning behind his individual contributions.
“My concept is that each of us has a dream, just a different dream. That’s why my work has a circle behind it. Because this person has his dream and that person has his dream. The important thing is not to let them lose their dream. People who don’t have dreams are not good,” he said.
Capturing Countryside and Conservation
The exhibition showcases both artists’ distinctive backgrounds and artistic missions.
Thun Dina, born in Kampong Cham province in 1989, discovered his passion after moving to Phnom Penh at the age of 13.
He has since pursued extensive artistic training, including a Bachelor’s Degree in Oil Painting from the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA) and currently a Master’s Degree in Painting at the Royal Academy of Cambodia.
Dina’s work often reflects the transition from rural harmony to urban modernity, depicting scenes of daily life — workers, fishermen and market stalls — in a vibrant, multicolour impressionist style that blends traditional and modern techniques.
His paintings, which convey both resilience and hope, have been exhibited in Cambodia, France, South Korea and Singapore.
Meanwhile, Nout Daro, born in Kandal Province in 1991, is a painter and sculptor who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sculpture from RUFA in 2018. Daro’s contributions to “VARY” focus heavily on environmental themes and conservation, stemming from his time volunteering with park rangers.
“We did this work while camping, meeting and learning from our fellow park rangers. So we learned clear information about conservation,” Daro explained.
He and Dina harnessed this information as content for “educational painting related to education, changing mindsets about hunting and conservation. We think can help a lot by spreading these ideas through paintings.”
Daro describes his style as modern art mixed with abstract, integrated naturally with people’s lives. Strong dedication to their shared goal is evident in the scale of the work.
“These 34 paintings took almost two years to make since 2024, little by little,” Daro noted. “Our goal is to make people understand, widely spread what is being done now, what they have done before, and the process of change, how it has changed, what it means, according to the highlights on the paintings that we have worked hard to make.”
Embracing Change
The artists view the exhibition as more than just a display; it is an educational and reflective experience.
“I think that all those who visit our paintings will receive an education, more or less, through these artworks,” Daro stated.
Through “VARY”, Nout Daro and Thun Dina have created a space where memory and change intersect, inviting the audience to consider how their own past and present intertwine to shape their identity and perception.
“Through VARY, we invite audiences to join us in exploring their own evolving stories and embracing the beauty of change,” Dina added.
The ‘VARY’ art exhibition is on display in the art gallery at Rosewood Phnom Penh until December 11.
