A sculpture named 'Apsara Warrior' is currently on display at the University of Michigan in the United States. The artwork, weighing 300kg, was crafted by Cambodian architect Ouk Chim Vichet and combines ancient Khmer and contemporary art styles. Vichet, who started his education in 1997 at the Secondary School of Fine Arts and graduated in Architecture from the Royal University of Fine Arts in 2006, aims to preserve the cultural art of his Khmer ancestors while integrating modern elements into his creations. The sculpture, titled 'Apsara Breaking the Gun' or 'Warrior Apsara', was purchased by a UMich student in 2007 and has been exhibited in Siem Reap province before being displayed at the university. Vichet's primary message with this piece, made from the metal of destroyed weapons, is to convey a message of peace. Standing at a height of 2.5m and weighing over 300kg, the sculpture is one of Vichet's many works crafted from scrap metal. He also sells his art products, including paintings and sculptures, overseas, with finished metal sculptures fetching prices of up to $50,000 depending on their dimensions. Vichet serves as a teacher of architecture at the Royal University of Fine Arts and engages in research related to Khmer cultural arts. Siyonn Sophearith, director-general of Techniques for Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, commends Vichet for his assembly of the sculpture, which aims to represent Khmer cultural art. [382d09b9]