ANGKOR - SACRED HERITAGE OF CAMBODIA

Angkor Wat | © J. Poncar, Cologne, Germany

Guided Tours
Catalogue
Reference Collection

Head of Jayavarman VII
Preah Khan, Kompong Svay,
Angkor Period, Bayon Style, late 12th century
National Museum Phnom Penh
Photo: © J. Gollings, St. Kilda, Australia

This is the first time that Germany will be host to an exhibition of this scale displaying art which – ever since it became known in the mid-19th century – has fascinated the culturally interested public in Europe and filled them with wonderment. Since then, the name Angkor has stood for unfathomably vast, mysterious temples, spread out in the Cambodian jungle – temples that can even today evoke the splendour that was once theirs.

Angkor represents the climax of a civilization which began to develop during the first centuries AD. The earliest Buddhist and Brahmanical (Hindu) works of art date from the 6th century.

Bhagavati Mahishasuramardani
Sambor Prei Kuk
Pre - Angkor Period, Sambor Style
early 7th century
National Museum Phnom Penh
Photo: © J. Gollings, St. Kilda, Australia

The real Angkorian period began in the 9th century when the centre of power was shifted to the west, close to Tonle Sap. At the height of their power the Khmer ruled over the entire territory of present-day Cambodia, South-Vietnam, Laos  and the central plain of Chao Phraya in Thailand. They were one of the largest and most powerful people of Asia. The significance of the Khmer empire becomes manifest in a series of gigantic temples, of which Angkor Wat is considered to be the world´s largest sacred building.

Wall texts from exhibition
english + deutsch

exhibition stops
Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin
5.5.-29.7.2007
Museum Rietberg, Zürich
21.8.-9.12.2007

Links
World Heritage Tour: Angkor, interactive Tour
Angkor on Wikipedia

Project Manager
Susanne Annen

Press officer

Press Releases

But what was the spirit behind these stupendous temples, which were the gods they were dedicated to, what was the social and economic structure that made their construction possible? What kind of society was it that could bring forth such achievements? What was the self-image of its kings? These are some of the questions posed by anyone who wishes to get acquainted with ancient Cambodia.

And this is where the exhibition steps in. It not only provides the viewer the opportunity of gaining an overview of the diversity of art, but also takes up the most important themes in art history, so that the visitor gets an idea of the historical, social and religious context of the works.

Hevajra
Banteay Kdei, Angkor
Angkor Period, late 12th - early 13th century
National Museum Phnom Penh
Photo: © J. Gollings, St. Kilda, Australien

Round 140 stone sculptures, bronze figures as well as silver objects and paintings will make their way to Bonn from the National Museum in Phnom Penh. In addition, objects on loan from the Musée National des Arts Asiatiques Guimet in Paris will also be on display at the exhibition. The show offers a unique survey of Cambodia´s culture, beginning in the 6th century with stone sculptures from the Pre-Angkor kingdoms of Funan and Zhenla. The exhibition´s main focus though is the art and architecture of the Angkor-Period (9th – 13th century). In this context the aspects of water management, rice cultivation, and trade relations, which provided the basis for the country´s exceeding wealth, will also be dicussed.