Born in 1970 in Cambodia, Mak Remissa graduated in fine art and photography from the Royal Fine Arts School in Phnom Penh. In 1997, he was awarded the first and third prizes at the National Photo-Journalism Competition organized by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club. He has exhibited widely abroad in countries such as Singapore, Canada, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland.This photograph is part of a series that is based on a common ancient Khmer proverb: When the water rises, the fish eats the ant; when the water recedes, the ant eats the fish. This proverb describes the natural behaviour of two living species in different environments. While fishes are adept at living in water and ants on land, one may dominate the other when circumstances change. Through this work, Mak Remissa expresses his hope for a utopian world where mankind can rise beyond power struggles and the inevitable dictates of the food chain, to live in harmony.
