A very sad loss

Vann Nath surveying a painting of himself at Tuol Sleng in 2008

Vann Nath succumbed to his illness and passed away earlier today. It's difficult to put into words the loss that will be felt by his death. Because of his past, as a surviving internee at S-21 and through his paintings and recollections of his experiences, he came into contact with many people around the globe and had a profound effect on most. His graciousness in recounting his story will stay with me after I helped out on a documentary we filmed with him in Tuol Sleng in 2008. But also a sense of melancholy pervaded our day together and his recurring health problems were an emotional, physical and financial drain that refused to go away. He suffered a heart-attack last Friday and slipped into a coma with his family by his bedside. Their loss is our loss.