About This Limited Edition

Together, the sketches and paintings in this collection tll the remarkable story and horrific experience of Cambodian artist Vann Nath between December 30, 1977 and January 7, 1979.

After the exhibition was first show at the Bophanna Audiovisual Resource Center in Phnom Penh, one painting was added and in Bangkok the exhibition was renamed "Endurance." "Endure" has several meanings:

• To suffer or to continue to experience and deal with painful things.
• To survive and to continue to exist for a long time

Vann Nath's paintings tell the story of his own suffering and survival. But they are also symbolic of Cambodia's suffering and survival, and they are a testament to his own and Cambodia's endurance that enables them to prevail over tragedy and pain and continue to embrace life.

The paintings and sketch in this collection are of profound historical significance. The scences depicted are based on the actual experience of the artist. They illustrate one of the darkest chapters in recent human history. Vann Nath's art is not angry, but it shouts the truth about human suffering and death under the Khmer Rough regime in Cambodia. The paintings and sketches also provide a stark warning of the human rights abuses that can, and do, occur in contemporary societies when imperfect people act in secret without checks, or when good people watch terrible things happening and do nothing.

Now the collection is being issued as a limited edition of 79 numbered and signed copies, 79 being symbolic of the year Vann Nath escaped imprisonment and almost certain death and the year that Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, was liberated from the Khmer Rough. The full collection includes fine art prints of 12 paintings and 14 sketches. Each print is signed and numbered so taht it retains its authenticity and value outside of the full collection.

Bophanna generously provided the computer files that were used to make the fine art prints in this collection, which were produced by friends of Vann Nath without pay. All of the profits from the sale of this collection go to the artist to help alleviate this medical expenses due to kidney disease.

Any and all parts of the works in this collection are the copyrighted property of the artist, Van Nath, and no part may b reproduced in any form without his expressed permission.

Scene Descriptions

1. Arrest in Battamband
2. Joinging Another Prisoner I Know
3. Interrogation at the Kandal Pagoda
4. Locked in Wooden Stocks
5. Waiting for the Tranport Truck
6. In the Truck to Phnom Penh
7. Upon Arrival at S-21 Prison
8. Dragged into Toul Sleng (S-21)
9. Being Photographed at S-21
10. Locked in Steel Shackles
11. Living Alongside the Dead
12. Escorted to See Duch
13. Interviewed by Duch
14. Seeing Myself in a Piece of Mirror
15. First Good Meal
16. Painting Pol Pot for Duch

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(French Language)