LOS ANGELES, U.S., September 7, 2010: The Cambodian mastery of the medium will be highlighted in a focused exhibition at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Gods of Angkor: Bronzes from the National Museum of Cambodia, on view February 22–August 14, 2011 at the Getty Center.
The ancient capital of the Khmer people at Angkor, located in northwest Cambodia, once formed the heart of a large sphere of influence that extended over much of mainland Southeast Asia. Culled entirely from the collection of the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, Gods of Angkor features 26 magnificent sculptures and ritual objects. It includes bronzes created during the Angkor period (9th–15th centuries), as well as a small group of works from the pre-Angkor period and some recently excavated works. Among the Angkorian pieces are some of the finest and most beautiful Cambodian bronzes in existence.
‘We are delighted to give visitors to the Museum this rare opportunity to see these exquisite Khmer bronzes on the West Coast, particularly given the local presence of the largest Cambodian community in the United States,’ explains David Bomford, acting director of the J. Paul Getty Museum. ‘We are deeply grateful to our colleagues at the National Museum of Cambodia for lending us so many important pieces for this exhibition.’