The Preah Srey Içanavarman Museum of Economy and Money (SOSORO) has unveiled a temporary exhibition showcasing rarely seen photographs of Cambodia taken between 1972 and 1975, just before the fall of Phnom Penh.
The exhibition, titled “Cambodia: 1972 – 1975”, features images captured by British photographer Colin Grafton during his stay in the country at a time of war and upheaval.
His photographs depict everyday life, street scenes and unusual moments such as gem panning in Pailin, offering visitors a glimpse into the resilience of Cambodians during a turbulent chapter in the nation’s history.
Opening the exhibition, SOSORO Museum co-director Blaise Kilian thanked Grafton and his spouse for sharing the collection.
“These rarely seen photographs offer a unique perspective on people’s daily life in Phnom Penh while the capital city was under siege, but also on more peculiar scenes such as the extraordinary gem panning that was taking place in Pailin at the time”, said Kilian
“As such, they bear witness to the resilience that the Cambodian people have time and again demonstrated through hardship,” he added.
Grafton, who was present at the ceremony, described Phnom Penh in 1974 as “a bubble cut off from the rest of the world”.
He noted that his photographs reflect “the strange dichotomy of those times, and the veneer of normality that still pervaded Phnom Penh”.
The exhibition will be open to the public from August 16 to 31, at the SOSORO Museum on Street 102. Visiting hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm, and admission is free.
