Faces of the Angkors by David H. MillerSeptember 8, 2009
By RALPH J. BELLANTONI • CORRESPONDENT
MyCentralJersey.com
DAVID H. MILLER: FACES OF THE ANGKORS; LIOUDMILA KOUDINOVA: RUSSIAN BRIGHTON BEACHThe towering, enigmatic faces of the Bayon temple at Angkor Thom peer serenely from the walls of Gallery 14 in Hopewell.
Gallery 14
14 Mercer St., Hopewell
Noon to 5 p.m. weekends and by
appointment, through Oct. 11
"Meet the Photographers'' 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13
Admission is free
Call 609-333-8511 or visit www.photogallery14.com for details.
The impressive images are from David H. Miller's exhibit, "Faces of the Angkors.'' Miller currently serves as president of Gallery 14 and is one of its founding members. Through infrared photography, he has captured some of the awe-inspiring artistry of the massive stone faces and figures from the ancient Khmer capital.
The expansive city-temple complex of Angkor Thom in Cambodia radiates exotic beauty and mystery with its profusion of sculptures, towers and bas reliefs surrounded by lush jungle. King Jayavarman VII established the city as the capital of his empire in the late 12th century, and the majestic countenances on its towers may be modeled after his semblance.
Photos by French archaeologists from 1968 show Angkor Thom reclaimed by the jungle - the ruins overgrown by massive trees, the titanic faces swarmed over with roots and vines. Miller's contemporary images reveal Bayon's powerful portraiture restored to its innate sublimity, basking in sunlight or profiled against the surrounding wilds.
The gallery also features Lioudmila Koudinova's photographic journal - "Russian Brighton Beach.''
"I started photographing Brighton Beach, New York, in 1992 - when I had been in America around a year,'' Koudinova recalls. "I had come from Leningrad to increase my photo skills - to learn about American photography. I soon heard that Brighton Beach immigrants came from various parts of the former Soviet Union, which made me wonder - who were these people?''
Koudinova found that third and fourth waves of Soviet immigrants arrived in Brighton Beach in the 1970s, forming a distinct ethnic enclave. She calls it "a little Odessa,'' complementing Chinatown and Little Italy.
"Their knowledge about America came from rumors, from their circle of friends, and through radio broadcasts that were strictly forbidden by the Soviet government - The Voice of America, the BBC and Radio Liberty,'' Koudinova said. "Every immigrant family had its own unique story to tell.''
The two exhibits will be celebrated with a reception from 6 to 9 Friday night. The gallery will then host a "Meet the Photographers'' event from 1 to 3 p.m. Sun., Sept. 13.
5 comments:
We are now known the world over for the priceless treasures left by our forefathers and ancestors for us. Please stop the madness and learn to live and help one another. Even a tiny community like this knows about us for the good things.
Bayon Temple was built by King Jayavaraman 7, some said the achitects designed those four faces looked exactly like the King.
May be the ancient Khmers were tall and big people.
Angkor Wat was built by King Suyravaman II, and Preah Vihear was built by King Suryavaman I and King Suryavaman II. Why Siams claimed that Preah Vihear belonged to them if our ancient Khmers King Suryavaman II built both Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear? It makes no sense. Furheremore, Chakri family just rule Thailand for 278 years?? or so?
I saw these photographs years ago in St. Petersburg, Florida. I went to visit Cambodia a few years later as a result of the impression this collection made on me. Khmer people have a lot to be proud of. These stones have a lot to tell us all.
Yes, these are our Khmer Identities left by our ancestors for us to preserveit for generations.
But do you're realising that Viet leaders, plus Hun Sen their pupper are planning to destroy the Khmer Identities. And some stupid khmers looted our ancestors' artifacts and sold them to Thailand.
Yeah, then do your part to protect it.
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