Anyone with enough money can simply ignore poverty, Stéphane Janin suggests in PHNOM PENH CHIC (2005-2006). He moves among the 'happy few' of Cambodia, who are chiefly to be found in the capital city, Phnom Penh. Seeing their posh parties and Western lifestyle, one might be forgiven for thinking that this is a country that has no need of the 500 million dollars in development aid it receives annually. The reality is different. Half the Cambodian population lives on less than two dollars a day. In the countryside many schools and homes still lack electricity, and medical help is several days walk away. But those who live in the better neighborhoods of the city can easily shut their eyes to that.

Stéphane Janin (France/Cambodia, b. 1968) emigrated to Cambodia in 2004. A year later he opened the Popil PhotoGallery, the first photo gallery in Phnom Penh, where he shows his own work and that of local photographers.