AKP Phnom Penh, October 23, 2025 -- 

The SOSORO Museum hosted on Oct. 23 the launch of the revamped edition of The Khmer Pagoda, in the presence of its author Mrs. Danielle Guéret. 

Presided over by H.E. Dr. Chea Serey, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, the event brought together guests from the cultural, educational and governmental sectors to celebrate this unique documentation of Cambodian Buddhist heritage.

First published in 2017, The Khmer Pagoda has become a reference for anyone interested in the architecture and painted decorations of Cambodia’s Buddhist pagodas. 

The extensive research undertaken by Danielle and Dominique Guéret between 2004 and 2015 meticulously documents the architectural design and the rich tapestry of mural art found in more than 3,000 pagodas dating from the late 19th century to 1973, with over 2,000 of them photographed.

The Khmer Pagoda features over a hundred vibrant pagoda paintings where religious parables are embedded with the daily lives of Cambodians along with the technological, cultural, political, and social transformations that shaped their times, as the country underwent continuous modernisation and growing exposure to the world.

Mrs. Danielle Guéret, former professor at the Faculty of Archaeology of the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA), shared her enduring passion for Cambodian pagodas and their architecture. 

She emphasised the importance of safeguarding these monuments as living expressions of national identity, stating: “My ambition is that this fragile heritage be preserved.”

“The National Bank of Cambodia’s SOSORO Museum is pleased to launch this updated edition of The Khmer Pagoda, a remarkable work by Danielle and Dominique Guéret that contributes to a deeper appreciation of Cambodia’s religious heritage, and of the importance of documenting it”, stated Mr. Blaise Kilian, Co-Director of the SOSORO Museum.

This revamped edition of The Khmer Pagoda offers an improved layout, as well as a catalogue of the temporary exhibition SOSORO dedicated to Danielle & Dominique Guéret's work in 2024. Available in Khmer, English, and French, the books are now on sale at the SOSORO Museum’s gift shop.

Established by the National Bank of Cambodia, the Preah Srey Içanavarman Museum of Economy and Money (commonly known as SOSORO) is dedicated to educating the public about the economic history and the evolution of money in Cambodia, through a blend of ancient artifacts and modern technologies, in a state-of-the-art museography. 

Since its opening, SOSORO has welcomed more than 150,000 visitors — half of whom are students or children —, hosted numerous temporary exhibitions, conferences, and events, and received a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award.

By Chea Vannak