Through the Eye of the Storm

EVENT DESCRIPTION

This exhibition, curated by Iv Charbonneau-Ching, retraces the fall of Phnom Penh through the photographs of Roland Neveu and presents the stories of four witnesses to these events, drawn from exclusive interviews conducted in 2025.

Through these images and voices, the exhibition not only documents the fall of Phnom Penh, but also opens a window onto the intimate experience of those who lived through it. The photographer’s eye and the survivors’ words resonate with one another, reviving the fear, uncertainty, and resilience that marked those days. By making these rare memories visible and audible, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the fragility of human lives in the face of violence, and on the vital need to transmit these experiences so they are not forgotten. More than a return to the past, it is a human encounter that still speaks to us today.

Commemorating a Tragic History

On April 17, 1975, Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, fell under the final assault of the Khmer Rouge, leading to a tragic genocide that targeted educated individuals and dismantled the country’s educational infrastructure. While millions of inhabitants were forced onto the roads of slavery, hunger, and, for so many, death, hundreds of foreign nationals sought refuge within the walls of the French Embassy. Not knowing what fate awaited them, they sought to ward off fear by organizing, as best they could, their lives as castaways. Beyond the walls of the Embassy, they became powerless witnesses to a tragedy unfolding before their eyes.

Organised by Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE) /For a child’s smile, this event aims to raise awareness and funds to improve educational opportunities for children in Cambodia. All proceeds will be donated in full to the association Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE).
The event is supported byVeolia, On The List and the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong & Macau.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE) has been active for 30 years. The organization has become a key player in Cambodia’s social and educational landscape. Every day, Pour un Sourire d’Enfant supports 7,000 children and their families through education, vocational training, and medical and psychosocial care programs. Since 1995, 14,000 children have been rescued. By lifting children out of poverty and giving them access to education and a career, PSE helps shape the future drivers of Cambodia’s development.