Sovanna Phum Art Association is a shadow puppet theatre company based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Sovanna Phum, which means ‘Golden Village’ in Khmer, was founded in 1993 by self-taught puppet maker Mann Kosal and French circus performer Delphine Kasam. The group performs two forms of traditional shadow puppetry, Sbek Thom and Sbek Touch. They also conduct regular training and education programmes on shadow puppet making and performing.
Hanuman, the strong and clever monkey king and general of Preah Ream’s army, is depicted at the centre. Here, he is fighting Kampan, a commander of Krong Reap’s army. Hanuman is shown in a fully frontal manner, while his nemesis is depicted in profile, with his set of sharp fangs attacking Hanuman’s waist. Hanuman grabs his dagger in his right hand and Kampan’s ankle in the other while Kampan grips his enemy’s wrist.
