What ultimately counts is inner beauty: a soul that draws deeply from the culture of the Khmers, artistic excellence and knowledge. We should be receptive to influences from other cultures, but first we must rediscover and strengthen our own identity.

Two Apsaras, both equally beautiful? The one dances in classical attire, as known from the bas-reliefs of the temple of Angkor. We see her in profile, gazing into the distance, surrounded by symbols of modern development. The other Apsara wears the crown worn by the dancers of the Classical Royal Ballet Troupe of Cambodia, but her skirt and belt buckle have a modern design. Yet, what ultimately counts is inner beauty: a soul that draws from the Khmers, moral rectitude, artistic excellence and knowledge. Through the comparisons I have drawn in my pictures, I wish to indicate that by merely giving itself the veneer of modernity, a country is certainly not ensuring a balanced development for itself - on the contrary this superficial modernisation poses certain inherent dangers, as is suggested by the thunder and lightning in the background. Thus, the structure of a huge casino bears down heavily upon the Buddhist Institute, the pearl on the banks of the Mekong, which is expected to provide visual delight to river-bank strollers. Once again, the Khmer culture, our Buddhist values and social norms, with a healthy balance between material and spiritual enjoyment should be adopted as the principles that guide the actions of both our rulers and our people. Only then can the beauty of our culture - epitomised by the Apsaras - help boost our self-esteem and thereby contribute to Cambodia’s peaceful integration into the globalised market, as a partner of equal standing.
We should be receptive to influences from other cultures, but first we must rediscover our own identity and strengthen it.