(Phnom Penh): The National Bank of Cambodia's Preah Srey Içanavarman Museum of Economy and Money (SOSORO), on the evening of Friday, August 15, 2025, unveiled its latest temporary exhibition entitled “Cambodia: 1972 – 1975”. It is exceptional and free of charge.

This special exhibition presents a collection of rarely seen photographs captured by Colin Grafton during his stay Cambodia from late 1972 until early 1975 which was a period of war and dramatic upheaval. Through Grafton’s lens, visitors are offered a glimpse into the everyday lives, streetscapes, and atmospheres of Cambodia just before the fall of Phnom Penh.

During the opening ceremony, Blaise Kilian, co-director of the SOSORO Museum, expressed his deep gratitude to Colin Grafton and his spouse for making his photographs available to the public. He remarked, "these rarely seen photographs offer a unique perspective on people's daily life in Phnom Penh while the capital city was under siege, but also on more peculiar scenes such as the extraordinary gem panning that was taking place in Pailin at the time.  As such, they bear witness to the resilience that the Cambodian people have time and again demonstrated through hardship."

Additionally, Colin Grafton also expressed his gratitude to the SOSORO Museum for facilitating this smooth exhibition. “Phnom Penh in 1974 was like a bubble cut off from the rest of the world. These photographs show the strange dichotomy of those times, and the veneer of normality that still pervaded Phnom Penh,” Colin emphasised.

The exhibition runs from 16-31 August 2025, open daily from Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the SOSORO Museum (entrance from Street 102). Admission is free.

About the SOSORO Museum
Established by the National Bank of Cambodia, the Preah Srey Içanavarman Museum of Economy and Money (commonly known as SOSORO) is dedicated to educating the public about the economic history and the evolution of money in Cambodia, through a blend of ancient artifacts and modern technologies, in a state-of-the-art museography.

For further information, please contact: Hor Hong: 096 46 49 106 | hor.hong@nbc.gov.kh

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