I've been increasingly bored lately... I hate school and, well, to a greater extent the exams that I have been through recently. Why should I care about them?
Anyways, this film (from the artist Banksy) is pretty cool:
http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=c1laBLYjuqM
His films never fail to surprise me!
2007年1月26日 星期五
The art of Angkor
The art of Angkor
Angkor is an area of ancient ruins near Siem Reap, Cambodia. It has some of the best examples of Indo-Khmerism.
The style of the structures in Angkor are, however a very different form then the Indo-Khmer structures in India, due to the strange twist of Buddhism and Hinduism. Throughout this series I will talk firstly about their history, then of the art and finally the temples. Please visit Angkor instead of reading these articles if you can.
Stay tuned...............
The art of Angkor (1)
A simple summary of the history of the Angkor empire.(Funan and Chenla).
Funan
The area of present day Cambodia was already habited in the 3rd millenium b.c., but was not documented historically until they came up the Gulf of Siam where Chinese chronicles recorded as Funan, literally bnam which means mountain in the mon-Khmer language.
Funan was founded when a Kaundinya supposedly married a female naga or many-headed snake. In the 5th century Kaundinya Jayavarman made the rulers go into a more defined historical sense. Later, Rudravarman also ruled the empire.'
Scholars have found both Vishnuism( the worship of Vishnu) and Shivaism( the worship of Shiva), the first statues of Buddha have also been found to originate in this period.
Chenla
The Khmer were probably vassals of the empire of Funan. Chinese chronicles mentions a land Chenla and a water Chenla. The water Chenla were probably the Khmer announcing independence in the Ton-le sap river. Later, Jayavarman the second united the two to form Chenla.
(For information on the art in this period, look over the internet)
The Angkor Period
Preah Ko Style
The start of the Angkor period began when Jayavarman the second freed the empire from Javanese dominion to form Kambuja. In the 9th century, just after independence, the cult of Devaraja( literally "God King") appeared and marked the Phnom Kulen style.
In the Phnom Kulen style, supporting arches gradually disappeared. However, the statues(now only of men) became more massive(relatively) and display eyebrows and facial expression.
After the death of Jayavarman the second, his son Jayavarman the third started the building of Hariharalaya with the Preah Monti. His successor Indravarman the first stared the excavation of the "island" Lolei, built Preah Ko and Bakhong, and most notably started the Preah Ko style.
There are many changes in the style of Preah Ko. Although the heaviness of the limbs remain, the statues show greater animation. The Preah Ko style marked the star of bas-relief in Angkor. The new plan for temples also began, with stupae in the middle, and large gopura. Another point are the many headed naga at the entrance. One can think of of the structure of a temple to the Hindu world. The barray surrounding it is the Milky Sea, the stupae the magical Mount Meru, and the statues of naga are naga making waves and creating life. Of course, Vishnu and Garuda are the new recurring reliefs.
The Preah Ko style has marked a new phase of Khmer art, and started it's rich architectural culture.
From Bahkeng Style to Banteay Srei Style
Yashovarman, the successor of Indravarman built his main temple in Phnom Bahkeng. This was the start to the Bahkeng style.
Harshavarman the first built the Prasat Kravan, but was later dethroned and his successor Jayavarman the fourth started the Koh Ker style. The faces have grown softer and with a fainter smile at this point. and narrative scenes appear on the lintels.
After the brief reign of Harshavarman the second, Rajendravarman the second returned from Cham and started his own reign. Both he and his architect Kavindramarimathana designed Pre Rup, Srah Srang, and the East Mebon.
The start of the Pre rup style was somewhere around this time. Carvings had more elaborate hairstyles and belts.
The Banteay Srei is considered by many to be the pearl of Angkor. It's bas reliefs are magnificent, if the word magnificent can describe them. It's lintels have numerous complex narrative volutes of mythology. The carvings are of traditional Khmer's styles, with fleshy lips and wide opened eyes. The carvings were so beautiful that,André Malraux actually stole one of the apsalas ( now returned to the original place).
Next time in The art of Angkor The Golden Age.
The Golden Age
The 11th century saw one of the most powerful kings in the Asian world. Suryavarman the first's reign was the mark of the Angkor Wat style ( well actually first the Khleang styel). With this style, it has been said to have reached perfection.
With the perfection of the architecture however, the apsaras seem to have gone back to the original stereotype of solemnity. The whole body is carved clumsily and the clothes they weir seem to distract us from the original carvings.
In the bas reliefs, a large number of umbrellas cover the very important people. The building itself is astronomically based, and the sun will rise from the center stupa in the summer solstice.
Decline
Every empire has a golden age, but they also have declines.
Under Jayavarman the seventh, Kabuja was again unified. He was a great builder, building hundreds of hospitals( such as the Neak Pean), and the renown Angkor Thom. He was a believer of Mahayana Buddhism, made the countries main religion Buddhism. This later led to the Bayon style.
The bayon style shows a more human aspect compared to the other styles. Instead of the mythical creatures, this style of architecture shows smiling faces of Buddha. This topic will be mentioned later.
After Jayavarman the seventh, the empire started to decline. It is said that the empire was destroyed by the Sukhothai. Eventually, Theravada Buddhism overlapped Mahayana Buddhism.
This ends the chapter on art history.
Angkor is an area of ancient ruins near Siem Reap, Cambodia. It has some of the best examples of Indo-Khmerism.
The style of the structures in Angkor are, however a very different form then the Indo-Khmer structures in India, due to the strange twist of Buddhism and Hinduism. Throughout this series I will talk firstly about their history, then of the art and finally the temples. Please visit Angkor instead of reading these articles if you can.
Stay tuned...............
The art of Angkor (1)
A simple summary of the history of the Angkor empire.(Funan and Chenla).
Funan
The area of present day Cambodia was already habited in the 3rd millenium b.c., but was not documented historically until they came up the Gulf of Siam where Chinese chronicles recorded as Funan, literally bnam which means mountain in the mon-Khmer language.
Funan was founded when a Kaundinya supposedly married a female naga or many-headed snake. In the 5th century Kaundinya Jayavarman made the rulers go into a more defined historical sense. Later, Rudravarman also ruled the empire.'
Scholars have found both Vishnuism( the worship of Vishnu) and Shivaism( the worship of Shiva), the first statues of Buddha have also been found to originate in this period.
Chenla
The Khmer were probably vassals of the empire of Funan. Chinese chronicles mentions a land Chenla and a water Chenla. The water Chenla were probably the Khmer announcing independence in the Ton-le sap river. Later, Jayavarman the second united the two to form Chenla.
(For information on the art in this period, look over the internet)
The Angkor Period
Preah Ko Style
The start of the Angkor period began when Jayavarman the second freed the empire from Javanese dominion to form Kambuja. In the 9th century, just after independence, the cult of Devaraja( literally "God King") appeared and marked the Phnom Kulen style.
In the Phnom Kulen style, supporting arches gradually disappeared. However, the statues(now only of men) became more massive(relatively) and display eyebrows and facial expression.
After the death of Jayavarman the second, his son Jayavarman the third started the building of Hariharalaya with the Preah Monti. His successor Indravarman the first stared the excavation of the "island" Lolei, built Preah Ko and Bakhong, and most notably started the Preah Ko style.
There are many changes in the style of Preah Ko. Although the heaviness of the limbs remain, the statues show greater animation. The Preah Ko style marked the star of bas-relief in Angkor. The new plan for temples also began, with stupae in the middle, and large gopura. Another point are the many headed naga at the entrance. One can think of of the structure of a temple to the Hindu world. The barray surrounding it is the Milky Sea, the stupae the magical Mount Meru, and the statues of naga are naga making waves and creating life. Of course, Vishnu and Garuda are the new recurring reliefs.
The Preah Ko style has marked a new phase of Khmer art, and started it's rich architectural culture.
From Bahkeng Style to Banteay Srei Style
Yashovarman, the successor of Indravarman built his main temple in Phnom Bahkeng. This was the start to the Bahkeng style.
Harshavarman the first built the Prasat Kravan, but was later dethroned and his successor Jayavarman the fourth started the Koh Ker style. The faces have grown softer and with a fainter smile at this point. and narrative scenes appear on the lintels.
After the brief reign of Harshavarman the second, Rajendravarman the second returned from Cham and started his own reign. Both he and his architect Kavindramarimathana designed Pre Rup, Srah Srang, and the East Mebon.
The start of the Pre rup style was somewhere around this time. Carvings had more elaborate hairstyles and belts.
The Banteay Srei is considered by many to be the pearl of Angkor. It's bas reliefs are magnificent, if the word magnificent can describe them. It's lintels have numerous complex narrative volutes of mythology. The carvings are of traditional Khmer's styles, with fleshy lips and wide opened eyes. The carvings were so beautiful that,André Malraux actually stole one of the apsalas ( now returned to the original place).
Next time in The art of Angkor The Golden Age.
The Golden Age
The 11th century saw one of the most powerful kings in the Asian world. Suryavarman the first's reign was the mark of the Angkor Wat style ( well actually first the Khleang styel). With this style, it has been said to have reached perfection.
With the perfection of the architecture however, the apsaras seem to have gone back to the original stereotype of solemnity. The whole body is carved clumsily and the clothes they weir seem to distract us from the original carvings.
In the bas reliefs, a large number of umbrellas cover the very important people. The building itself is astronomically based, and the sun will rise from the center stupa in the summer solstice.
Decline
Every empire has a golden age, but they also have declines.
Under Jayavarman the seventh, Kabuja was again unified. He was a great builder, building hundreds of hospitals( such as the Neak Pean), and the renown Angkor Thom. He was a believer of Mahayana Buddhism, made the countries main religion Buddhism. This later led to the Bayon style.
The bayon style shows a more human aspect compared to the other styles. Instead of the mythical creatures, this style of architecture shows smiling faces of Buddha. This topic will be mentioned later.
After Jayavarman the seventh, the empire started to decline. It is said that the empire was destroyed by the Sukhothai. Eventually, Theravada Buddhism overlapped Mahayana Buddhism.
This ends the chapter on art history.
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