Pen Robit – The Modernity

Richard Koh Fine Art (RKFA) Singapore is pleased to present The Modernity, a solo exhibition by Cambodian artist Pen Robit, from 22 March to 19 April 2025. In The Modernity, Pen Robit delves into themes of struggle, oppression, freedom, and democracy, extending these concerns beyond humanity to encompass the environment. Through a striking new body of work, the artist reflects on the urgency of healing from violence—both personal and collective—while confronting the conflicts that continue to shape our world.

For the first time, Robit experiments with acrylic painting, limiting his palette to primary colors to create stark contrasts that amplify the intensity of his imagery. Each bold brushstroke mirrors the chaos and upheaval of contemporary society. At the same time, his compositions introduce an imaginative array of characters—humans, animals, and flora—to narrate the ongoing struggles of our time.

While his past works often depicted war-torn landscapes and the devastation of unchecked societal progress, The Modernity takes a more optimistic turn. Robit replaces bleak backgrounds with vivid, colorful settings, symbolizing hope and resilience amidst destruction. This shift invites viewers to consider the possibility of peace, even in the face of conflict.

Beyond themes of struggle and hope, the exhibition also critiques societal divisions and hierarchies. Robit examines the consequences of human dominance over nature, as reflected in his depiction of the robot—symbolizing the environmental toll of technological progress—and flowers, which embody nature’s quiet resistance and enduring beauty.

Through The Modernity, Pen Robit challenges audiences to confront the realities of the present while fostering a renewed sense of hope for the future.

Pen Robit (b.1991, Battambang, Cambodia) lives and works in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Robit’s work attempts to represent Cambodia’s past, present and future socio-political fabric. He draws influences from Cambodian cultural iconography as well as ongoing societal discourses.

He has been selected as an artist-in-residence for the following: OzAsia Festival (ADELAIDE) Australia (2016); Peninsula Austronesia International Art and Culture Exchanges in Taiwan (2015); The Memory Workshop with Vann Nath & Séra Ing, Bophana Center, Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2009); South East Asian Workshop, Tep Seri Sok Sopha Studio, Chiang Mai, Thailand (2008). Solo exhibitions include: Wings of Tomorrow (2022), Silapak Trotchaek Pneik (YK Art House) Cambodia; Out Of This World (2020), Richard Koh Fine Art, Malaysia; Beyond (2018), Tribe Cambodia, Siem Reap, Cambodia; Thread (2018), Sa Sa Art Projects, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Krama (2013), and Untitled (2012), both at Romeet Gallery, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.