The vast four wings of Cambodia’s national museum are filled to the brim with artifacts, making it a tight squeeze for visitors to navigate among the approximately 1,400 items on display. The historic building in central Phnom Penh is reaching its capacity, in part due to the return of around 300 stolen artifacts by foreign collectors and institutions over the past six years. Director Chhay Visoth expressed his top wish for more space during an interview in the courtyard.
Plans for expansion and renovation are in the works, but the funding, management of finances, and internal politics surrounding the museum’s future remain uncertain. Another challenge is creating galleries that resonate with Cambodian visitors, who view the statues as more than just artwork, but as sacred deities embodying the spirits of their ancestors.
The museum has made significant progress since its closure during the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s. However, foreign experts believe that the museum could do better in showcasing Cambodia’s history, including the legacy of the Khmer Empire and the rampant looting of Cambodian artifacts in the 1990s.
Visitors, including British tourist Portia Jezard, are left pondering the ownership of stolen Khmer treasures still held by foreign museums and collectors. The museum recently added new panels addressing the issue of looting and repatriation. Repatriating stolen statues holds great emotional significance for Cambodia, as it serves as a form of reconciliation with the traumatic past under the Khmer Rouge regime.
Efforts are underway to make the museum more accessible to all, including schoolchildren, and to enhance the preservation of the artifacts. However, decisions on whether to allow visitors to touch statues or place offerings on them remain contentious. The museum’s future layout and design are subjects of ongoing debate, with proposals to potentially return statues to their original looted sites.
While some progress has been made in repatriating stolen artifacts, completing the process may take years. In the meantime, the museum faces various pressing tasks, from interpreting ancient inscriptions to addressing administrative issues. The hope is that the museum will continue to evolve and serve as a beacon of Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage.