Kbach Khmer: Mudras + Gestures KNY Exhibit + Festival Celebration Photo Journal
A photo journal from our 2nd Annual KNY Exhibit + Festival Celebration - Kbach Khmer: Mudras + Gestures
Photos by Jalen Hill
Creating a utopia, ecosystem, and community where the modern day Khmer person has always been the vision. Upon moving back to Seattle, I lived in Long Beach, which was where I reclaimed my Khmerness. Telling everyone to address me by my Khmer name, that only my family called me, I knew when I would return, tapping into the Seattle Khmer community would happen fluidly. Dancing robaim at the OG KCSKC in the early 2000s, going to jubilee days in White Center, and the dragon boat races in Tacoma growing up I witnessed a lack of community gathering, especially after the pandemic. Well, after my third child went to preschool, you know it was only going up! My intention to gather, my skills with event production, and my love for unique immersive experiences, my lack of community as being a SAHM during post partum, I was eager to create everlasting, mindblowing gatherings.
I could not have done this without the friendships I’ve cultivated who believed in this dream and vision, the folks who put their expertise into the craft, and the community for wanting to experience something greater beyond themselves.
Here’s what I’m celebrating:
a group show with local, California, and Texas artists.
a lineup of performing artists (so giddy that my son Apollo got to perform the monkey dance and I performed my new contemporary street choreography of neang yeak)
a khmer market of artists and foodies
a lowrider show that helped get the festival to the street outside of studio 7117 (which catalysted me planning for cherry street block party in sept 2026 closing down cherry street from 1st to 2nd ave)
a childrens rest and play area in the lobby above our creative studio + gallery
getting coverage in the international examiner
showcasing our event through the khmer collective that connects with the global khmer diaspora
I’m sure I’ll come back to this post and add more thoughts and details about the festival. But for now, I’ll let the photos show you!
blessings on blessings,
dany