Raffles School Interview

Had a chance to meet young writers and poets from the Raffles Institution in Singapore when they visited Angkor recently. We had some interesting discussion on how it is to be involved in literature in a country like Cambodia where majority of their learned individuals have been purged by a very oppressive regime just a couple of decades ago.

Here's a link to their blog after that insightful evening...

http://rira2011.wordpress.com/talk-with-mr-ramos/

circles

a visual poem

by loven ramos

new web baby

Having my macbook crash into oblivion last week gave me so much freedom to let loose of my usual twitter and facebook routine and go back to other pursuits that needed a little lovin' too - this blog for one, and then our official website for 1961!

Created with a new blog-based format by my ex-girlfriend (a.k.a. spoolartist's wife), the new website is more user friendly, updated and packed with goodies from events, new promotions, exhibitions, insights and all possible things that rock our world here.

So click away on the link: www.the1961.com 

Epic weddings and fake Rolexes

Last week was whirlwind of double weddings and pre nup shoots. I had this particular couple who drove all the way from Poipet, near the Thai border who tried several photographers but somehow, couldn't get the drama they wanted on their photos. 

So when they met me, they only had one request... for their photos to look epic and cinematic... as if they have stepped into a film set. They liked the look of the classic photos of yore.

So here's what we did for them... 

Black and white. It never gets old.

 This didn't actually start well at first. Call time for us was 4 am, because they wanted sunrise shots but they didn't show up until 7 in the morning. I guess they had the same Rolex watch supplier as Lady Gaga. I was a little pissed (you know me and waking up early!) but as soon as the shoot started rolling, the fun began.

Shooting in Angkor Wat is a moment in itself.

The groom turned into my assistant director. He was really excited with all this and ended up coaching his bride-to-be on all the proper poses and smiles.

What was originally a 4 hour shoot turned into a 12 hour production! After each session, they would come back and say... "we loved it... let's do more." 

So what was supposed to be a simple shoot in the temples almost turned into a citywide thing. But at the end of the day, we all went home very happy. 

I have been lucky enough to be chosen as a speaker at the next TEDx event in Phnom Penh!

TEDx or Technology, Entertainment and Design is a global venue for "ideas worth spreading" which gives speakers from different spectrums of topics to discuss their "ideas" within an 18-minute time frame. 

Past presenters include Bill Clinton, Jane Goodall, Malcolm Gladwell, Al Gore, Gordon Brown, Richard Dawkins, Bill Gates, educator Salman Khan, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and many Nobel Prize winners.

The talks is at Pannassastra University this Monday, June 9th from 9 am. Tickets are still available so if you're in Phnom Penh by that time, drop by...

The spoolartist has been in silent mode for over a year now, but that doesn't mean he's just grazing his lazy butt in bed. As a matter of fact, he's turned beds into his business and still managed to pour his heart into it...

So for more updates on all his and other artists' creative pursuits, please join us at www.the1961.com for the spoolartist's latest art projects, collaborations and exhibitions! 

1961 transformations

How 1961 looks before when we signed the lease and how it looks now...


The Norodom Gallery


The Nostalgia Gallery


Galerie V


Thy Kingdom Pop Gallery


Facade

More transformations soon! Four more galleries are being renovated together with the Cafe!

1961 is now open from 9 am til 9 pm...