Glorious Devata

A Devata at the little-visited temple of Banteay Prei holds a mirror in her hand

I can't make it myself, but the good folks at The Sothea luxury hideaway resort in Siem Reap are launching an exhibition devoted to Devata, the heavenly goddesses of Angkor, from tomorrow until the end of November. The exhibits will showcase the work of a local artisan group formed under the tutelage of the late Ip Somol, the 'Dean of Khmer Arts.' Opening the event will be a lecture entitled Banteay Srei: A Citadel of Women, from Dr Olivier Cunin, a senior fellow at the Center for Khmer Studies and author of The Face Towers of Banteay Chhmar and Bayon, New Perspectives. The Sothea itself, is a quiet oasis in the midst of Siem Reap, with 39 suites, offering a highly-personalized service and focused on femininity.