‘B
E YOUR own colour, don’t let anyone define you.” This is the message of Colours – Por, a short animation by art school graduate Koa Senghuo and studio Phare Visual that emerged victorious at Cambodia DigiCon6 in August.
Following her victory in the competition, Senghuo is now preparing for the Digicon6 Asia animation contest in Hong Kong next month.
The 22-year-old transgender woman majored in animation at Battambang province’s Phare Visual and Applied Arts School, run by non-profit organisation Phare Ponleu Selpak.
Meaning ‘ The Brightness of the Arts’ in Khmer, Phare Ponleu Selpak is a Cambodian non-profit arts school in Battambang offering support to children, youth and the surrounding communities through art, education and social support. The school welcomed its first students in 1995, with the number of students growing each year.
Senghuo is one graduate among the over 1,000 empowered each year by the organisation’s school programmes, which include performing, visual and applied arts classes and vocational training.
Her DigiCon6 award is the pride of the organisation as it celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
Phare Ponleu Selpak communications coordinator Morgane Darrasse told The Post : “Today, our Visual and Applied Arts school students can master skills in the fields of visual arts, graphic design and animation, whereas our Performing Arts school gives local youth access to the circus, theatre, dance and music.
“This creation hub is nested i n our Visua l and Applied Arts School building i n Battambang , ensuring a v irtuous circle of mutual Colours–Por development.
“To keep the light of Cambodian arts shining, we are counting on crucial overseas support from sister organisation Phare Ponleu Selpak France with whom we are working closely to develop an international outreach and funding opportunities.”
Senghuo said she felt empowered by the education provided to her by the organisation, with animation helping her promote fair treatment of the LGBTQ community.
Senghuo’s work in animation has also helped her family to understand and accept her gender identity.
“When I enrolled at Phare Ponleu Selpak in 2015 for my bachelor’s degree in animation, I started to get paid for work. I did well at school and never had my family worry about my life.
“Gradually, they started to accept who I am. They became more open. They acknowledged my fruitful results and let me follow my dream. It was quite a positive change.
“I’m really thankful to Phare Visual and Applied Arts School for giving me an opportunity to study animation. It really means a lot to me to have come this far. It’s a great milestone in my life.”
Colours – Por won an award at the 2019 Cambodia DigiCon6, a competition organised by National Television of Cambodia under the Ministry of Information.
Ever y yea r, a n a nnua l a nimat ion workshop a nd contest is held ca l l i ng for v ideo submissions, wit h t he winner submitted to t he inter nat iona l level competit ion DigiCon6 Asia – held t his yea r in Hong Kong on November 27.
“I feel very excited to have won DigiCon6 Cambodia and proud to represent Cambodia in the upcoming international competition,” Senghuo said.
“When I submitted my animation to Cambodia DigiCon6 the duration of the clip was five minutes, but I will polish the story and improve its quality for the international competition. Hopefully, I will be able to extend it to around six minutes and that will be competitive enough among several countries in the region.”