On 10 April 2010 H�tel de la Paix�s innovative gallery cocktail bar and champion of contemporary Khmer art, the Arts Lounge, will unveil Desire, a hotly anticipated exhibition of 12 new artworks celebrating connections and creation by French Cambodian artist Texte de Sera. Stylistically indebted to abstract expressionism, de Sera�s latest work combines the emotional intensity and self-denial of the German Expressionists with the anti-figurative aesthetic of the European abstract schools; and is set to inspire another new reincarnation of the chameleonic Arts Lounge.

Located in the centre of Siem Reap, close to the cultural and historic heart of Cambodia, every aspect of style and service at H�tel de la Paix is informed by Khmer culture, from the seasonally inspired local cuisine served at the signature Meric restaurant, to Spa Indochine�s traditional treatments incorporating local flowers and herbs. Committed to celebrating and nurturing the burgeoning Cambodian art scene, the Arts Lounge is the cultural and social heart beat of the hotel, offering an ever-changing exhibition space dedicated to showcasing the rich heritage of Khmer culture and offering a living laboratory for its creative future.

Texte de Sera was born in Phnom Penh to a French mother and Cambodian father in 1961. When the city fell to the Khmer Rouge in 1975, de Sera fled to France; aged just 13, he never saw his father again. Inspired by his childhood passion for comic books, de Sera enrolled in a school for graphic arts in France, and by 1987 had earned a �Ma�trise d�Arts Plastiques� and a �D.E.A. d�Arts Plastiques� from the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne. Since then de Sera has juggled comic book work and teaching art at the Sorbonne with painting, with his last solo exhibition being held at the East-by-East gallery in Paris in 2008.

Recalling the �all over� look of Pollock�s drip paintings, de Sera�s new works are composed of ink, pastel and acrylic on canvas and paper. Characterised by frenetic markings and an impression of spontaneity, yet with a clearly implied expression of ideas concerning the spiritual and the unconscious, the works are rebellious, anarchic and highly idiosyncratic. Launching at 6.30pm on 10 April 2010, the exhibition will run at the Arts Lounge until early June 2010.

Kuoni (tel: 01306 747 002; www.kuoni.co.uk) offers five nights at H�tel de la Paix from �1,329 per person, including deluxe room accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis and return flights departing from London Heathrow with EVA Air. This price is valid for travel from 5 � 27 May 2010.

For further information visit www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com or call tel: +855 63 966 000.

Notes to editors: Located in the heart of Siem Reap, close to the cultural and historic heart of Cambodia, H�tel de la Paix is a luxury boutique hotel within easy reach of colourful markets and vibrant nightlife; and just a few kilometres from the breathtaking temple complexes of Angkor Wat, often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Khmer culture is celebrated in every aspect of style and service at H�tel de la Paix, from the Meric Restaurant, with its seasonally inspired local cuisine to the Arts Lounge, which pays tribute to Cambodian artists; and Spa Indochine, which offers signature traditional treatments. Each of H�tel de la Paix�s 107 spacious, beautifully appointed en suite rooms features chic interiors and contemporary furnishings complimented by intricate wall mountings and handcrafted lamps, creating a balance between modern design and traditional detailing.

H�tel de la Paix is operated by Ativa Hospitality, an experienced, Asian-based management company specialising in the development and management of independent deluxe boutique hotels. Ativa Hospitality currently manages properties in Thailand and Cambodia with project developments in Vietnam, Laos and India. For further information visit www.ativahospitality.com. - Ends -

For further press information, or to discuss opportunities to visit H�tel de la Paix, contact:

Eleanore Longley, Nat Frogley or Flora Gandolfo Bacall Associates, 63 Catherine Place, London, SW1E 6DY Tel: +44 8704 288 401 Fax: +44 8704 288 402 E-mail: firstname@bacall.net Web: www.bacallassociates.co.uk