Discover the Festival Murals & Artists
In 2023, the S’Art Urban Art Festival took place from 12 to 17 June – four years after the last edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Drawing in more than 7700 attendees from all over Cambodia and Southeast Asia, Battambang became a crossroads of artistic talent, creativity, and fun. During the six-day art festival, visitors participated in activities, workshops, and panels led by artists and experts from Taiwan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, France, Canada, and many more.
In 2023, Phare Ponleu Selpak worked in collaboration with Murals for Cambodia (FT Gallery and Studio of Phnom Penh) and the Giant Puppet Project (Siem Reap) to organize the S’Art Urban Art Festival. Other partners included UNESCO, the Battambang Provincial Government, and iDEN agency.
Learn more about the S’Art Festival mural artists and their paintings found throughout Battambang in descriptions below.
Tigers – FONKi
Hello Battambang – Lazygraphy
Mekong River – Hard13
Battambang Driver – Jecks Bkk
ASERK – ASERK
Potato Man – ASERK
The Monkey – LeHo
Girls in Blue – Nongpop
House with a Hole in the Roof – Koeurm Kolab
Every Destination Starts From a Single Step – Poy Chhunly
Tuk-Tuk – Jefr
Tigers
FONKi (@fonkiworld) – Cambodia-France-Canada
Location: On the wall across from Ktroy-Ktrok Cafe
About the Mural
FONKi painted these tigers in collaboration with the Wildlife Alliance. Tigers have disappeared from their Cambodian territory over the last fifteen years. Recently, the Cambodian government declared its intention to reintroduce the feline predator to the country’s forests. This initiative has the support of the Cambodian population, as preserving the tiger’s habitat is vital to curb the harmful effects of human activity on the environment.
For this mural, FONKi chose colors reminiscent of the festival sponsor, Tiger Beer, while also bringing out the finesse and untamed nature of tigers.
About the Artist
FONKi is a Cambodian/French-Canadian artist who was born in Paris in 1990 and later grew up in Montreal. In 2005, he discovered graffiti, began painting, and co-founded the FT crew. His triple national identity, along with the universal language of art, led him to discover the wider world.
Today, he is the curator and owner of the FT Gallery in Phnom Penh. FONKi uses his art as an ambassador for Khmer culture, and as a tool to build bridges around the world and forge links within the global communities where he paints.
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In partnership with: Wildlife Alliance
Sponsored by: Tiger Beer, Aver Asia, TOA Paints
Hello Battambang
Nguyen Thanh Tan (@lazygraphy.artstudio) – Vietnam
Location: In the alley between the two buildings of the Seng Hout Hotel
About the Mural
The three colors of this mural aim to represent the history of Cambodia. The red represents blood, orange represents the land of Cambodia, and yellow represents its people. The word “Battambang” is painted with many hard straight lines, reflecting the bravery of Cambodians. These four elements express how Cambodians rebuilt their country and culture.
About the Artist
Nguyen Thanh Tan, also known as Lazygraphy, is currently living in Ho Chi Minh City as a full-time graffiti and mural artist with interests in hip-hop and breakdancing. He participated in Phare’s RomBak battle at S’Art 2019 and has worked with some students from Phare Ponleu Selpak. Tan made this mural to express his gratitude to the Cambodian people for what they share with Vietnam.
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Sponsored by: Phare Ponleu Selpak, TOA Paints
Mekong River
Hard13 (@hardthirteen) – Indonesia
Location: At the corner of Pub St (St 2.5) and St 119
About the Mural
In this mural, a stunning woman sits on a sampan (a traditional boat), surrounded by colors, water, and birds.
With a straw hat protecting her skin, the lady shares her rowing adventure on the Mekong River with all the people of Battambang who have not been able to go there yet, including the artist. Hard13 hasn’t yet accomplished his dream to see the Mekong River, but through this painting, he transports himself and viewers onto the river.
Hard13 usually uses more vibrant colors in his paintings, but for this message he used pastels and dark tones. He wanted to make the mural blend seamlessly with the building and the city’s cultural heritage. The mural also blends realist elements (such as the boat, the woman, and the bird) with geometrical shapes from his digital painting style.
About the Artist
Bernhard Suryaningrat, better known as Hard13, is a graffiti artist known for his unique style and innovative approach to graffiti. He first made a name for himself in graffiti with his bold works, which often incorporate bright colors and intricate patterns.
Despite his success, he continues to push the boundaries of art and experiment with new techniques and materials. His works inspire other artists in Indonesia and continue to captivate audiences with their energy and creativity.
Ultimately, the artist hopes that his art will spread love and happiness all around the world.
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Sponsored by: Tiger Beer, Aver Asia
Battambang Driver
Jecks Bkk (@jecks_bkk) – Thailand
Location: On the corner of Pub St (St 2.5) and Pir Thnu St
About the Mural
This mural depicts a resident of Battambang speeding on his bicycle. He’s clearly an artist, as he’s got paint supplies flying out of his basket. The muralist combines rounded shapes and bright colors to give an impression of speed. In addition, the color blue represents water, a structuring element in the Cambodian way of life. The mural has multiple references to Cambodia and the S’Art Festival; the badges on the cyclist’s jacket sport the Cambodian flag and the S’Art logo, and we can see an ancient temple looming in the background.
About the Artist
Jecks Bkk is a street artist in Thailand. He works in illustration, digital painting, and graphic design.
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Sponsored by: Tiger Beer
ASERK
ASERK (@aserktw) – Taiwan
Location: On Pub St (St 2.5) in the alley across from Mey Mey Cosmetic
About the Mural
This artwork primarily features the artist’s graffiti tag (i.e. signature). Leaving tags is a common practice for every graffiti writer. ASERK used this particular letter style hoping to leave a lasting impression on everyone who sees it. The color scheme of the mural is inspired by a Taiwanese beachside sunset to show the artist’s deep appreciation for the beauty of his home country.
About the Artist
ASERK is from Tainan, Taiwan and is the Director/Founder of KIDZ JAM. Influenced by 80s graffiti, he enjoys colorful works and incorporating personal experiences into his art. He believes that art should be accessible to all. ASERK is dedicated to offering educational graffiti courses to democratize graffiti and combat prejudices about the art form.
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Sponsored by: National Culture and Arts Foundation (NCAF)
Potato Man
ASERK (@aserktw) – Taiwan
Location: On Pub St (St 2.5) between J Mey Meatballs and the barber shop
About the Mural
This artwork primarily features the artist’s graffiti tag (i.e., signature). Above the tag is a personified potato showing the artist’s deep appreciation for Taiwanese street food, specifically potato chips. The potato character represents the artist because he holds a can of spray paint and has 4 eyes (ASERK wears glasses). You can also see the island of Taiwan in the middle of the potato’s bandana.
About the Artist
ASERK is from Tainan, Taiwan and is the Director/Founder of KIDZ JAM. Influenced by 80s graffiti, he enjoys colorful works and incorporating personal experiences into his art. He believes that art should be accessible to all. ASERK is dedicated to offering educational graffiti courses to democratize graffiti and combat prejudices about the art form.
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Sponsored by: National Culture and Arts Foundation (NCAF)
Tuk-Tuk
Jefr (@jefr.studio) – Malaysia
Location: On Pub St (St 2.5) on the wall of DM Home Tattoo
About the Mural
Jefr particularly enjoys traveling, exploring, and painting pieces abroad with old and new friends. For this particular mural in Battambang, his inspiration came from the local tuk-tuk. The bright colors are inspired by the loud and busy energy of the city. The distorted composition reflects the movement and speed of a tuk-tuk.
About the Artist
A graffiti and visual artist based in Kuala Lumpur, Jefr has been honing his skills since early 2012. Like most graffiti writers, he is self-taught. Jefr started to dive deeper into graffiti by marking his tags and throwies all over the city using any medium available, from paint markers to spray paint and home-made ink. Over time, he found his own style, incorporating both letters and characters into his work.
Graffiti is about bringing color and life to bare walls. Despite the difficulties, Jefr approaches his work with honesty, guaranteeing a balanced result for personal fulfillment and public appreciation.
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Sponsored by: Tiger Beer
The Monkey
LeHo (@lehoartwork) – Taiwan
Location: Facing St 1.5 on the side of the Flavors of India building
About the Mural
LeHo painted a monkey because he found out people in Cambodia love monkeys and pray to the god Hanuman. In Taiwan, there are also lots of native, wild monkeys. This work represents a cultural combination and exchange: the artist wanted to bring a monkey from Taiwan to greet everyone in Battambang. The mural’s colors are inspired by sunsets and clouds, creating a dreamy freedom and fantasy. LeHo used to see the sunset on the coast every day of his childhood, and this imagery gives him a lot of strength and imagination. The position and posture of the monkey reflects curiosity and is intended to look like the monkey is discovering a whole new world. Cambodia is the first country where LeHo has painted in Southeast Asia.
About the Artist
LeHo, a modern artist from Tainan, was born in 1995. He currently lives in Taiwan. The name “LeHo” derives from the Taiwanese word for “Hello,” symbolizing the artist’s intention to extend a warm welcome to all individuals worldwide through his works of art.
In LeHo’s wall works, the focal point revolves around animals that serve as messengers of knowledge, depicting human feelings, stories, and beliefs. These creatures allow viewers to immerse themselves in the diverse expressions and atmospheres conveyed by their various manifestations.
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Sponsored by: National Culture and Arts Foundation (NCAF), Sabrina Group / Choice Accelerator, TOA Paints
Girls in Blue
Nongpop (@nongpop555) – Thailand
Location: Near Pi Tnou Primary School AND next to Ktroy Ktrok Cafe
About the Mural
This portrait depicts a studious young girl inspired by pop culture. The geometric shapes of the mural seem to jump out from the wall in the artist’s classic style. The blue and orange color scheme is inspired by the logos of the artist’s mural sponsors.
About the Artist
Nongpop is a mural artist from Bangkok, Thailand. She used canvas to express herself before switching to spray paint and street art in 2016. She has always been intrigued by graffiti and thought it would be fun to practice. She loves spray paint because it’s challenging to control. She’s very proud that her work can make any space more remarkable and beautiful, and she loves when people take a photo of her work. Her murals are girly, often featuring sweet, determined girls in pink, but anyone can connect with her work.
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Sponsored by: TOA Paints, Tiger Beer
House with a Hole in the Roof
Koeurm Kolab (@roserose596) – Cambodia
Location: On Pub St (St 2.5) in the alley next to the hairdresser past J Mey Meatballs
About the Mural
This mural expresses the artist’s emotions about the melting of the ice sheets at the North Pole by depicting its significant impact on polar bears as a species. Kolab wants people to consider that the climate is changing and to cooperate in order to benefit both humans and animals.
About the Artist
Koeurm Kolab graduated from the Visual and Applied Arts School at Phare Ponleu Selpak with an emphasis in graphic design in 2007 and in animation design in 2010. She also received a diploma in visual arts from the École Pivaut of Applied Arts and Design in France in 2014. She currently teaches visual arts and animation at Phare Ponleu Selpak.
Her works explore humanity as well as environmental and social change. Kolab won the gold medal prize at White Canvas Cambodia 2020, an event organized by Social Compass Cambodia. Recently, her work has been shown at Penh Art, AIR Gallery, Factory Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Anonymous Heirloom, Sa Sa Art Project, international online art exhibition; Sangskar Bhatr, and Lalit Kala Akademy, New Delhi, India; White Canvas Cambodia, IRoHa, Un Petit Marceau, Alliance Française, Siem Reap; Ansan International Environmental, Danwon Art Museum, and Cambodians of the Rice Fields, Million, Paris, France.
Kolab believes that street art can reach people who may not be able to see exhibits in galleries. The artist wants observers to see Battambang street art as a journey where true human expression can begin. She doesn’t want the city to just be full of billboards about alcohol or cigarettes. Instead she wants people to see that Battambang is a city that is rich in culture and arts.
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Sponsored by: TOA Paints, KampumEra
Every Destination Starts from a Single Step
Poy Chhunly (@poychhunly) – Cambodia
Location: On Pub St (St 2.5) in the alley near The Lonely Tree Cafe
About the Mural
In this mural, an elephant, a frog, and a bird are all shown taking the first step on the long journey ahead of them. This first step represents direct action toward an ultimate goal which they can only reach by continuing to put one foot in front of the other.
About the Artist
Battambang-born artist Poy Chhunly has devoted his life to teaching drawing and animation at Phare Ponleu Selpak. He has a background in film study and eagerly awaits the opportunity to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a filmmaker. Chhunly believes in the power of urban art to transform the old into the new.
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Sponsored by: TOA Paints, KampumEra
Festival Partners
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