PHNOM PENH: Plantation Phnom Penh is proud to present Souvenir de Myope, a new solo exhibition by French-Italian artist ROMA (Romain Garzonio), featuring 21 contemporary works—17 abstract paintings and 4 sculptures—that reflect on memory, perception, and emotion through the softened lens of myopia.
Drawing from his personal experience with myopia, ROMA invites viewers into a softened world—where the sharpness of detail gives way to the depth of feeling. His work doesn’t aim to represent what is seen, but rather what is remembered and emotionally recalled. The result is a poetic, intuitive body of work that speaks to the subconscious through fragmented forms, diffused colors, and textured surfaces.
Having lived and worked in Phnom Penh for over seven years, ROMA brings to the exhibition a deeply personal connection to place and to the inner landscapes shaped by his time in Cambodia. A former construction worker turned full-time artist, ROMA channels a lifetime of hands-on material knowledge into his creative practice. His sculptures—created during the global pandemic as a means of healing—extend the same language of abstraction into three-dimensional space.
“ROMA has developed a deeply personal and immediately recognisable style,” says Alexander Scheible, General Manager of Plantation. “His ability to translate inner landscapes into visual form is both subtle and powerful. Hosting this exhibition is a privilege—we’ve long admired his work, and several of his pieces are already part of our permanent collection. At Plantation, we believe that art should be lived with and not just observed.”
A longtime supporter of Cambodia’s creative community, Plantation has consistently welcomed a wide range of local and international artists. Its art program reflects a commitment to diversity in both artistic voices and visual language. Souvenir de Myope stands as another highlight in this ongoing dialogue.
“My paintings and sculptures are like emotional souvenirs,” says ROMA. “They’re not meant to show a place or a time exactly, but how it felt to me—filtered through memory and instinct.”
“My work reflects the way I experience the world—through intuition more than precision,” ROMA continues. “Living with myopia has taught me to embrace blur, to let go of perfect outlines. In that space, I find truth and feeling.”
Souvenir de Myope is free and open to the public daily from 1st August to 7 September 2025. Visitors are encouraged to experience this immersive, meditative exhibition at their own pace.
Photo by: Supplied
