Sometimes the mere connection we make with each other can change people's lives. It doesn't have to be something big. The mere fact that you're interested in them makes them happy. Chath Piersath More Quotes by Chath Piersath More Quotes From Chath Piersath All throughout my work, even in the United States, I have worked with the greater Cambodian community. Chath Piersath united-states greater community I've been coming to Cambodia off and on, six months of the year usually. Chath Piersath cambodia six-months years I'm doing a collaborative project with another artist, Mary Hamill. My project is to gather the oral history of war widows, starting with the women of my village, Kop Nymit. Chath Piersath widows artist war The family I grew up in had three generations of widows. Chath Piersath widows generations three I met Mary [Hamill] in New York at my exhibition and when I told her about my oral history project she asked, "Would it be possible to incorporate visual art?" My sister stitches pillowcases, which led to Mary suggesting using cyanotype on them. I originally thought of the idea of pillowcases because when people get married, they have the bride and the groom lay their hands on each other's pillows while their relatives tie ribbons on their wrists. And then on the bed you usually have two pillows - one for yourself and one for your loved one - so when one is gone, one pillow remains. Chath Piersath new-york hands art I thought of the pillowcases as a symbol of love and loss, of retaining the memory of your loved one. Chath Piersath loved-ones loss memories In Cambodian culture the male figure in the family is important; when you lose your husband you lose your economic ability to survive. Chath Piersath males husband important Some people have witnessed the killing of their husbands, or they survived other horrific things. My sister is a widow but her husband was killed after the Khmer Rouge. There are different periods in which violence has occurred, and differences in how these women became widowed and how they survived afterwards. Chath Piersath differences husband people I am a community social psychologist and a lot of my work deals with social work and helping people overcoming addiction and trauma. Chath Piersath overcoming-addiction community people I'm very connected to the story, the history, and the trauma people experience. Chath Piersath trauma stories people I'm also developing my own narrative, because I'm the son of a widow. And so, while working with women and gathering their oral histories, I'm taking a step back to do my own art book and visual work. Chath Piersath book art son I think that through the narratives of other people you get closer to your own. Chath Piersath narrative people thinking You get closer to your own humanity by understanding the stories of other people and the struggles they have. Chath Piersath understanding struggle people I think every person has a unique story to tell and we each have the different life events that happen to us and sometimes we may feel sympathetic toward a certain aspect of that life event. Chath Piersath events unique thinking For me, the more I understand the story of others, the greater I am able to learn and help other people. Chath Piersath helping-others stories people Whether I affect one person or an entire family, or even a group of people, I feel like I have resources and education and ability and skills that some people may not be fortunate enough to acquire. But by sharing and inquiring, being a listener, and being interested in the stories of other people and their lives, I can also pull things out and say "What can I do for them? What can I share with them that may alleviate some of their suffering?" Chath Piersath skills suffering people I used to despair about the condition of the world, to feel a sense of hopelessness; now I find more and more that I need to focus on what I can do, however little it is, to help others. Chath Piersath despair focus helping-others Often when people tell their story, they talk about their strengths and resiliency. It's really about their determination and their aspiration to survive and live. Chath Piersath determination stories people In This Body Mystery, even though it was written in the voice of people with HIV/AIDS, it's about how people come to accept their fate and their sickness. It's about accepting the way your life is. Chath Piersath fate voice people I think there are things I can't write in English that I wish I could write in Khmer. Chath Piersath wish writing thinking
