Cambodia- Meta House: A Bastion of Cinema and Art in Phnom Penh

My experience travelling in places usually involves exposing myself to a great many examples of local cultural interests. When I arrive in a new place, one of my favorite things to do is to go to the important museums, a library (of the public as well as the often NGO-sponsored type), art galleries, and events such as Pecha Kucha nights and lectures.

The Meta House of Phnom Penh has been promoting international, but primarily Cambodian and German, art and film since 2007.

Founded by Nicolaus Mesterhern as a makeshift film appreciation society at a house in the city which had a rooftop well-positioned for showing films, it has grown into a major purveyor of new art in this inspiring and fascinating city.

At a typical night, one might find a documentary from Khmer film students about the aftermath of the Pol Pot regime, or any array of documentaries from other young filmmakers from Southeast Asia

Meta House is now in a modern, stylish location on Sothearos Blvd. in the center of the city. The lower level is a gallery featuring work by artists from all around the world.

The upper level has a small theatre in an open-air space that overlooks the city, and a slick but refreshingly comfortable bar at the back provides all the booze and nosh needed for a night out to see a feature documentary or just to grab a light lunch or dinner.

The main purpose of Meta House is to showcase up-and-coming Cambodian artists and filmmakers, as well as those from around the world.

Manager Johannes Kast has been involved with Meta House since 2009, and has watched it flourish through the years, which have been anything but unproductive for the local art scene and Meta House itself.

He expressed that the work Meta House was doing was “more serious, more professional, with expanded horizons.” He said that the ideal situation would be for Cambodians to be operating completely the gallery, cinema and bar/restaurant in the next year.

When asked about contemporary trends he sees in Khmer art at present, he describes a kind of realism, an ‘everyday life’ element to what many up and coming Khmer artists are creating.

As for Meta House’s mission, Kast said “there is always a social and educational element to what we do.”

For more information on Meta House and the work they are doing in Cambodia, please visit their website here: www.meta-house.com