UNCOVERING THE SECRETS OF KHMER ART: THE STORY BEHIND A MALE STATUE ADORNED WITH GOLD JEWELRY скачать в хорошем качестве

UNCOVERING THE SECRETS OF KHMER ART: THE STORY BEHIND A MALE STATUE ADORNED WITH GOLD JEWELRY

As a freelance researcher of Khmer art, Andy Brouwer has a keen eye for details, and a passion for discovering the stories behind ancient sculptures. In January 2018, he saw pictures of gold jewelry adorning a male statue from a National Museum exhibition titled The Adornment for Deity and Human, and felt intrigued. He investigated the statue further, but couldn't find it in the museum's collection until he saw it again at the Peace Palace exhibition of returned treasures. This time, he examined the statue closely and noticed that the head and left arm seemed to be recent additions to the original body, which he found in the museum's online collection registered as Ka.113, a torso of a male divinity from the Baphuon period. Although Andy has no formal qualifications in archaeology or stonemasonry, he believes that the style and quality of the carving indicate that the original sculptor was among the very best of the Khmer Empire, and that the new parts were added to display the gold jewelry in a visually striking way. The gold jewelry is another fascinating part of the story. According to Andy's research, a collection of Angkor-era gold jewelry, including necklaces, earrings, crowns, belts, and bracelets, were illegally removed from Cambodia and sold through private UK collections. However, in 2017, after lobbying by Cambodian officials, the UK dealers voluntarily delivered ten artifacts to the Cambodian embassy in London, and they were repatriated to Phnom Penh by the end of the year. The jewelry and some donated pieces from a UK collector were displayed in The Adornment for Deity and Human exhibition, which showcased the exquisite craftsmanship and symbolism of Khmer art. For Andy, the exhibition was an opportunity to appreciate the beauty and history of these objects, and to share his observations with others who may want to learn more about Khmer art as well.