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Transcript/Script
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Cambodia/Disabled Artist (TV)
HEADLINE: Cambodian Artist Challenging Prejudices Against People with Disabilities
TEASER: Morn Chear's work on exhibit in his country's capital, Phnom Penh, and U.S. cities of Seattle and Denver
PUBLISHED AT: 04/01/2022 AT 9:55
BYLINE: Sokummono Khan, Socheata Hean, and Scott Stearns
DATELINE: Denver
VIDEO EDITOR:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, BR
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA original, Other (see courtesies in script)
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 3:33
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ((Cambodians in most instances use both names on second reference: "Morn Chear," not "Chear"))
((INTRO)) [[The Cambodian artist Morn Chear (CHEE-ah) is having something of a moment in the art world, with exhibits in his country's capital, Phnom Penh, and the U.S. cities of Seattle and Denver. On canvass and with block prints, he is challenging prejudices against people with disabilities. VOA’s Scott Stearns has our story from Colorado, with VOA Khmer’s Sokummono Khan and Socheata Hean in Cambodia.]]
((NARRATOR))
At home in his Siem Reap studio, Morn Chear paints in the mornings before inking linocut blocks with his wife, Phun Thou, to make individual black-and-white prints.
((Morn Chear, Artist (in Khmer)))
"My talent in art, as I remember, began when I was a young boy drawing in the soil. I didn’t dream of being an artist when I grew up. But after the accident when I became disabled, I started to learn art skills from a local NGO, Epic Art."
((NARRATOR))
Twelve years ago, Morn Chear was burned in an electrical accident on a building site, leading to the amputation of both his arms below the elbow.
((Morn Chear, Artist (in Khmer)))
"When I was in the village, I thought I was alone. I saw some people were struggling more than me. That made me want to live my life and work hard."
((Courtesy: Lauren Iida))
((NARRATOR))
Four years ago, Morn Chear met Seattle artist Lauren Iida, who was working in Cambodia and opened her studio to local artists.
((Lauren Iida, Artist)) ((Courtesy: Skype))
"At first, he was just drawing. He drew the first block and then I chiseled it. And then the second time he said, ‘Oh I think I can do that. Let me try.’ And now he is very prolific. He is creating larger blocks, very highly detailed blocks. He is painting a lot more with acrylic on canvases."
((Morn Chear, Artist (in Khmer)))
"The painting that shows me with the butterfly wings illustrates the turning point in my life — from a rural boy in the rice field who didn’t know the city and didn’t know many people. Then, when I turn to art, my life changes."
((Lauren Iida, Artist)) ((Courtesy Skype))
"He often finds these very sweet metaphors that are from his own life and puts them into the artwork — like this one, that is about the hangers. The idea is that they look flimsy, but they actually are really strong because they need to be strong to hold up the heavy wet clothes. And that’s a metaphor for himself because he looks disabled, but he doesn’t feel disabled. He is a lot stronger than he looks."
((Courtesy: Denver Theatre District))
((NARRATOR:))
After the accident, his uncle gave him a job raising ducks – an experience reflected in “Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Difficult,” on display at the Denver show curated by Shanna Shelby.
((Shanna Shelby, Denver Arts & Venues Chief Curator))
"It was hot, difficult work, but he was grateful for the job. And so just the sentiment that 'Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Difficult' I think resonates with so many different people."
((NARRATOR:))
The disenfranchisement of people with disabilities is reflected in “Wishing for Inclusion...and he reflects a chaotic calm in “Tangled.”
((Shanna Shelby, Denver Arts & Venues Chief Curator))
"I love that the fish is in a big, huge mess but still is beautiful. Again, I kind of relate to that in our world that is a big mess but still we have this beautiful fish. It’s simple, but it’s touching. It’s really lovely.”
((NARRATOR:))
Morn Chear says his art and his accident are inseparable parts of his story.
((Morn Chear, Artist (in Khmer)))
"I changed the mindset of people who used to think that with a disability, I could not do anything besides being a beggar or fed by others."
((NARRATOR:))
Morn Chear is part of the Open Studio Cambodia collective that provides marketing, supplies and exhibition opportunities in promotion of Cambodian contemporary art.
((WITH SOKUMMONO KHAN AND SOCHEATA HEAN IN CAMBODIA, SCOTT STEARNS, VOA NEWS, DENVER
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline) Denver
Embargo DateApril 1, 2022 16:02 EDT
BylineSokummono Khan, Socheata Hean, and Scott Stearns
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
