Kosal Khiev Explained

Kosal Khiev is a Cambodian spoken word artist.

Life

Kosal Khiev was born in Khao-I-Dang in 1980.^[1] He grew up in Santa Ana, California. At 16, he was involved in a gang shoot-out. He was deported to Cambodia in 2011 after being released from prison. He began experimenting with poetry while in solitary confinement. In Phnom Penh, he met filmmaker Masahiro Sugano, and multimedia artist Anida Yoeu Ali, who made the movie Cambodian Son about Khiev's life.

Themes

Kosal Khiev's work focuses on the transformative power of art and the US justice system among other themes.^[2] Khiev represented Cambodia in the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cambodian spoken word artist Kosal Khiev went from prison to poetry. Raguraman. Anjali. Apr 18, 2016. The Straits Times. Dec 27, 2018.
2. Web site: Deported 'Home': Kosal Khiev's Path from Prison to Poetry. Nguyen. Sahra Vang. May 19, 2015. NBC News. Dec 27, 2018.
3. Web site: Kosal Khiev's journey from prison to poetry. Cheung. Helier. Feb 10, 2014. BBC News. Dec 27, 2018.