Than Sok

(he/ him)
b 1984, Takeo, Cambodia

Than Sok is a prolific artist and is well established as one of Cambodia’s most well respected contemporary artists. His practice investigates religious and spiritual beliefs, materials and rituals through sculpture, installation, video, drawing and painting. Than’s reflective and often critical practice bridges contemporary Cambodian art with the country’s rich and complex relationship with Buddhism. As a post-war artist in the early to mid 2000’s, Than studied at the Art School of Reyum Institute of Art and Culture in Phnom Penh. Here he learnt a range of practices in two-dimensional media, favouring painting. After graduating in 2007, Than continued his studies in Architecture at the city’s Norton University; however, he returned to fine arts during his architectural education, believing that through the arts true expression and storytelling can take place. Over the past 15 years he has been awarded a number of international residencies including at San Art, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2014), Sa Sa Art Projects, White Building, Phnom Penh (2014), Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York, United States (2013), S-AIR, Sapporo, Japan (2011) and Tokyo Wonder Site, Aoyama, Japan (2005). His works have been purchased for many private collections and by the Singapore Art Museum and MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum, Thailand and Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA). Than’s has held solo exhibitions in Cambodia, across southeast Asia and Europe. Than was presented to an Australian audience at the 10th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art at QAGOMA (2022) and as one of 12 artists in Than Sok 16albermarle Project Space’s All That Surrounds Us: New art from Cambodia (2023).