Sengchanh Soukhaseum

Biography

Sengchanh Soukhaseum, née Upravarn, was born on 23 December 1946 in Ban Paphay, Luang Prabang. She grew up on the banks of the Nam Khan, attending the town’s primary school from 1953 and the Luang Prabang secondary school, which she completed in 1961. It is this childhood she now recounts in “Les Filles de la Nam Khan”. At sixteen she left for Moscow: boarding school from 1962 to 1964, a Russian baccalaureate, then preparatory classes for the School of Architecture. That same year she enrolled at the University of Toulouse-Le Mirail, but had to give up her studies for lack of means. From 1970 to 1977 she lived and worked in France. Returning to Laos in 1977, she joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, where she spent nearly thirty years: First Secretary at the embassy in Moscow, twice Director of the Department of International Organisations, Minister-Counsellor at the Lao embassy in Paris, then Ambassador of Laos to the Philippines from 1997 to 2001. She ended her career as head of the Institute of Foreign Affairs, training young diplomats, before retiring in 2005. A mother of five and a self-taught painter, she draws on a life between Laos, France, Russia and the Philippines for colourful work full of faces and memories. At the festival in Luang Prabang, she presents her book “Les Filles de la Nam Khan — A childhood in Luang Prabang”, published by Voix du Mékong.

Career

1. 2026

   France–Laos Festival — presentation of the book “Les Filles de la Nam Khan” in Luang Prabang, as part of Carte blanche

2. 2005

   Retires from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; devotes herself to painting

3. 2001

   Director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs: diplomatic training and strategic studies (2001–2005)

4. 1997

   Ambassador of Laos to the Philippines (1997–2001)

5. 1994

   Director of the Department of International Organisations, second term (1994–1997)

6. 1991

   Minister-Counsellor at the Lao embassy in Paris (1991–1994)

7. 1986

   Director of the Department of International Organisations: multilateral diplomacy (1986–1991)

8. 1983

   First Secretary at the Lao PDR embassy in Moscow (1983–1986)

9. 1977

   Returns to Laos and joins the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Department 1)

10. 1970

    Lives and works in France (1970–1977)

11. 1964

    Preparatory classes for the Moscow School of Architecture, then enrols at the University of Toulouse-Le Mirail

12. 1962

    Leaves for Moscow: boarding school and Russian baccalaureate (1962–1964)

13. 1961

    Completes secondary school in Luang Prabang

14. 1958

    Primary school certificate in Luang Prabang

15. 1946

    Born on 23 December in Ban Paphay, Luang Prabang

Artistic practice

Writing shaped by a life between Luang Prabang and the world.

Works & projects