Curator, cultural entrepreneur, and photographer based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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BIO
Dana Langlois is a curator and cultural entrepreneur who has been actively engaged in Cambodia’s contemporary art scene since 2000, collaborating with artists and communities to foster creative platforms and cultural dialogue. Her curatorial practice is rooted in listening and paying close attention to the ideas, interests, and needs of artists and communities. She develops projects that respond in different ways—sometimes by shaping a topic of exploration, other times by creating platforms that provide support and visibility.
She is the founder and artistic director of Java Creative Café (formerly JavaArts, est. 2000), where she has produced hundreds of exhibitions and programs, fostering a platform for Cambodian and diaspora artists. She also launched Our City Festival (2008–2014), a collaborative public festival dedicated to contemporary art, architecture, and urban engagement, and Creative Generation (2017), an incubator and award program supporting young Cambodian artists.
Dana’s curatorial curiosities center on relational space-making, collaborative and community processes, and socially engaged art practices. She describes her approach as “making soup”—bringing together different ingredients, turning up the heat, and seeing what emerges. This experimental and responsive way of working has led to artist projects and exhibitions with institutions such as the National Museum of Cambodia, Musée d’Art Contemporain de Lyon, and Palais de Tokyo, as well as international events like Asia Pacific Triennial 8 and Festival Tokyo.
Through her work, she continues to build creative ecosystems that amplify artistic voices and foster meaningful connections between artists, institutions, and audiences.
PROJECTS
Java Creative Cafe
A family of cafes and art spaces in Phnom Penh, founded in 2000.
Creative Generation
An arts consultancy and public art platform in Cambodia that supports emerging artists, fosters creative community engagement, and develops innovative cultural initiatives through collaborations and public programs.
Canopy Project
A public art and urban design initiative that fosters community-driven design solutions for social spaces in Phnom Penh, developed in collaboration with young architects and local partners.
Performance Lab
A research and experimentation residency in Cambodia that supports artists in exploring the boundaries of performance through interdisciplinary inquiry, process-based creation, and critical dialogue.
Our City Festival
A festival (2008-2014) dedicated to urbanism, architecture, and public space, bringing together artists, designers, and communities through a collaborative process to explore the evolving cityscape through exhibitions, performances, and participatory projects.
Photography
Trained in analog photography and inspired by documentary storytelling, my work explores social issues and personal experiences through narrative-driven imagery.