Axel Vervoordt Gallery in Antwerp is presenting the first Belgian solo exhibition of Cambodian artist Sopheap Pich. The show features a new body of work, including large-scale sculptures made from bamboo, rattan, hand-forged copper, and recycled aluminum, as well as wall-based pieces. Visitors can physically enter some of the large sculptural forms.
Pich's work is significant for its deep engagement with materiality, Cambodian history, and visual culture. His process, involving repetition and collaboration with his Phnom Penh studio team, embodies personal and collective memory, particularly shaped by his family's flight from the Khmer Rouge. The formal language of his work resonates with principles of traditional Khmer ornamentation (kbach), while materials like bamboo and recycled aluminum carry specific cultural and historical weight, transforming local craft into contemporary art with global relevance.