A new exhibition opening at Sra'Art Studio tonight, April 9, will shine a spotlight on the oft-overlooked lives of everyday workers in Cambodia’s capital.

Titled Factotum: The Hands and Faces of Phnom Penh, the exhibition by Chinese artist Li M.H. offers an intimate and compelling portrayal of the city’s labourers, capturing the quiet dignity and resilience found in their daily routines.

The collection, on display until June 12, presents original paintings that blend realism and abstraction, focusing on the physical and emotional textures of working life. Through expressive brushwork and layered detail, Li invites viewers to reflect on the humanity of his subjects.

“My creative process usually starts with observing – movements, gestures, moods. I sketch, I write and I let the medium respond,” said Li, who has lived in Cambodia for the past five years.

Li M.H’s latest works use a mix of abstraction and realism to capture the daily lives of the Kingdom’s unseen workers. Supplied

Best known for his previous series Love, Art, and the Space in Between and #catsinkh, Li continues to draw on a blend of Eastern and Western influences. His latest work challenges audiences to recognise the value in seemingly ordinary lives.

“I want the visitor to feel seen, because I’ve often felt invisible too – like I was on the edge of things, observing more than participating,” he says. “So I want my work to be a space where people feel like they matter, even if just for a moment. It’s about connection – subtle, but real.”

The opening night on April 9 will run from 6pm until late, offering guests the opportunity to meet the artist and engage with the stories behind his work.

The exhibition runs Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am-6pm daily, at Sra'Art Studio, on Phnom Penh’s Street 3, near the National Museum of Cambodia.