The exhibition presents works in acrylic on paper and canvas, exploring mythical creatures from both Myanmar and Khmer traditions. These guardians — dragons, lions, ogres, and hybrid beings — are rendered in luminous gold tones and adorned with intricate traditional floral motifs, echoing the grandeur of Southeast Asia’s sacred art heritage.

Yet these figures are not whole.

Across the series, the mighty guardians appear fractured, shattering, or partially ruined. Beneath their ornate surfaces, skeletal structures emerge — exposing what lies underneath the beauty, power, and mythology. The golden forms suggest glory, divinity, and royal history; the broken bodies speak of vulnerability, endurance, and survival.

Inspired by the powerful civilizations of Myanmar and the Khmer Empire — cultures shaped by strength, spirituality, and artistic brilliance — this body of work reflects on how even the greatest histories carry scars. Through surreal compositions and symbolic fragmentation, Norwyn contemplates the contrast between past magnificence and present realities marked by conflict, loss, and collective trauma.

Fragments of the Guardians is not only about destruction. It is about resilience. Even in pieces, the guardians remain standing. Even when cracked, gold still shines.

Please join us to celebrate Norwyn’s first solo exhibition in Cambodia. Free entry.