April 29, 2025

Online Exhibition: “Through the Eyes of Jean-Michel GALLET: Exploring Cambodia in Photographs”

“Through the Eyes of Jean-Michel GALLET: Exploring Cambodia in Photographs”
An Online Exhibition Capturing the Spirit of Cambodia in the Early 1990s

Phnom Penh, Cambodia — [April 2025] — The Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center is honored to present Through the Eyes of Jean-Michel GALLET: Exploring Cambodia in Photographs, an online exhibition that offers a unique, heartfelt view of Cambodia as seen by Jean-Michel GALLET, a French who came to the country in 1990.

Jean-Michel GALLET arrived in Cambodia not as a photographer, but as a representative of a non-governmental organization focused on agricultural development. His work, which spanned several countries including Vietnam, Laos, and Indonesia, brought him to Cambodia in the wake of conflict, during a period when the country was just beginning to rebuild. What he encountered went far beyond his professional mission.

Moved by the resilience of the Cambodian people and the quiet strength expressed in their everyday lives—particularly in the eyes and smiles of children—GALLET began to take photographs. Though not trained as a photographer, he used his camera to document the reality he witnessed: the enduring vitality of Khmer culture, the beauty of the land, and the hope that persisted even in hardship.

This exhibition is not about technical photography. It is a personal testimony—an invitation to see Cambodia through the eyes of someone who, though an outsider, was deeply touched by its humanity. The photographs are moments of observation, respect, and connection, revealing both the pain and perseverance of a nation on its path to recovery.

The exhibition will launch online on May 1st, 2025, and will be available to the public through the Bophana Center’s digital platforms. It is a tribute to Cambodia’s strength, and a reminder that even in the most difficult times, the human spirit—and the spirit of a nation—can shine through.

For media inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact:
Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center
Tel: +855 23 99 21 74
Email: info@bophana.org
Website: bophana.org