One of the distinctive faces at Ta Prohm, complete with smile and foliageFour more exhibition photos taken by Japanese photographer Baku Saito and on show at the
Holy Faces of Angkor exhibition at the CJCC headquaters on Russian Boulevard until the end of May. Baku has been documenting all the face temples in Cambodia over the last fifteen years and has produced books on both The Bayon and Banteay Chhmar. I hear that he will now turn his attention for the next six months to the mountain-top temple of Preah Vihear on the Cambodian-Thai border and bring his own style to recording the temple as it is today. Try and get along to the exhibition in Phnom Penh. There are some postcards of his photographs that are available to buy. The photos will be gifted to the Cambodian government once the exhibition closes.
A face tower from Banteay Kdei
A very different face from many others, to be found at Ta Prohm
A face from Banteay Chhmar, which I focused on myself very recently
One of the distinctive faces at Ta Prohm, complete with smile and foliage
A face tower from Banteay Kdei
A very different face from many others, to be found at Ta Prohm
A face from Banteay Chhmar, which I focused on myself very recently
8 Comments:
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As far as the digital snapshots taken by Mr. Brouwer let see, Saito's pictures are remarkable.
In another vein, and in my opinion the most strikingly beautiful photograph of the holy faces ever taken, was that by the Polish-German-French photographer, Germaine Krull. Krull, a modernist-communist-anarchist-constructivist-feminist photographer from the 20s, became after WWII one of the owners of the Oriental Hotel, in Bangkok, and must have taken her picture of the liking of Jayavarman VII over one of the Angkor Thom gates in the late 40s, I guess.
To see the image go to http://preangkorcambodia.blogspot.com/
--- Anton Frankenthaler
Andy,
I've found Krull's image really stunning, though I'm not sure it's the North Gate... I had already seen this pictue long ago and mistakenly figured it shd have been taken by the great Scot photographer, John Thomson, in the 19th. century.
On my last visit to Angkor, in 2006, I made it a point to photograph all the 16 faces of A. Thom's gates but I fell short of the schedule and missed two or three here and there. On the other hand, I couldn't match Krull's with any one of the many photos from the faces I have available in books, magazines and my own... What's your guess? I suggest you download Krull from the internet and post it in your blog, even because it wd be a "joy forever" for your readers. Thanks for any clue.
Although it's hard to judge from the dig-pics you've posted, as noted by A.F., and also missing some tech-info on them, Baku's seemed to me as stunning as K's. Another great contemporary photographer of Angkor I find (not specifically of the gates), is Jon Ortner ('Celestial Temples of the Khmer Empire', Abbeville Press Publishers, NY/London), though on a more lyrical register.
Regards, Ivana Krasner
Hey! i'm eager to learn why these were deleted! hahahaha just kiddin... by the way, is the internet in Cambodia subject to the same type of control as in China? if you need the services of a dentist or doctor in PP, you look for local professionals or rather go to a Western institution?
forgive the scoopy
Eileen/Dublin
Andy, these vintage photos of Cambodia, themselves, are a priceless treasure, not only for Cambodia and the world as well. And I'm sure one day, your journeys of stories on your travels to cambodia will become priceless as well for those who may seek to research on cambodia. Thank you and God Bless you, Andy.
hi Eileen, it was me getting the posting of comments all arse about face! no censorship here (as far as I'm aware). freedom of speech reigns...until I hear a knock at my door!
re dentists, there are western-run or good quality khmer operations available. depends on what prices you want to pay and how much you value your teeth.
hi Ivana,
i've so far been unable to identify the face and its exact location. Baku would know!
and I met Jon Ortner when he was photographing the book u mention. nice guy and a great snapper, and we've kept in touch ever since.
Andy,
Thanks for returning. I had no clues, but I have a puzzle and that's interesting. Will try to contact Baku. Cheers for Jon and for you, I'm an admirer of your work.
Ivana NY
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