Particles Gallery by FCC
Tucked inside one of Siem Reap’s most beautiful old buildings, the Particles Gallery sits at the heart of the FCC. The Phnom Penh FCC opened in 1993 as a gathering place for journalists and became part of the city’s social and cultural life. The Siem Reap mansion has a different, older history: it once housed French officials and later became associated with visiting correspondents and travellers. The colonial past is visible in the building, even as it has taken on a new life as a hotel, café and gallery.
I love coming here. The café is gorgeous, and the leafy setting makes it easy to linger over a coffee before or after looking at the art.
The gallery is currently displaying work by Rith Bonrotanak, a Cambodian artist, architect and actor. He also appeared in Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites, the short film by Chheangkea. Talk about multitalented! I was surprised to find his art here. The painting that caught my eye is colourful and intricate, with Khmer mythological and classical elements. Its many small marks give it an almost pointillist quality. Bonrotanak calls his distinctive approach “Particlization”: using precise, layered details to rework everyday objects and cultural symbols.
The gallery itself is quite small, but I think that suits it. There’s lots of natural light, and the intimate space gives you time to look without feeling rushed. It feels connected to the rest of the FCC rather than set apart from it. You can come for the café, find the gallery along the way, and let the art catch your attention.
There’s also the FCC in Phnom Penh, which has closed down, and that still makes me so, so, so sad. I miss having that kind of gathering place in the capital. Visiting the Siem Reap FCC brings back a little of what made it special: a space to meet, talk and come across something unexpected.
