non western art southeast asia. cambodia indonesia burma/ myanmar thailand vietnam laos malaysia
TRANSCRIPT
N O N W E S T E R N A RT
SOUTHEAST ASIA
SOUTHEAST ASIA
• Cambodia• Indonesia• Burma/ Myanmar• Thailand• Vietnam • Laos• Malaysia
SOUTHEAST ASIA
• SE Asia is a geographic zone where different cultures have mingled, coexisted or dominated each other since the days of the Roman Empire
• Two dominant influences: India and China• Southeast Asians adapted rather than imitated their art
and government• Some coastal areas became “indianized” in the first
century• Adopted Hindu and Buddhist faiths• Rulers developed form of gov’t called “cult of the god-
king”• King identified himself with a god- usually Hindu gods
Shiva or Vishnu• Ruler became model for society and had blessings of
gods in his earthly rule
SOUTHEAST ASIA
SOUTHEAST ASIA
FYI’S
Southeast Asia is home to widely diverse people, speaking over 250 dialects and languages
CAMBODIA
• Khmer empire started in the 800’s• Greatest Khmer empire established between 12th and
13th centuries – now called Cambodia• Khmer rulers established their own immense temples
called a wat• Wat- Thai, Laotian temple or Khmer pagoda• Temples perpetuated divine image of the ruler, later
served as their mausoleum• Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom- two of finest god-king
temples• Fun fact about Angkor Thom- same king that built it also
built over 100 hospitals and rest stops- dedicated to protection of Buddha. Future rulers replaced Buddhism with Hinduism however, and magnificent Angkor Thom abandoned
CAMBODIA
• Angkor Temples
• These temples reflect strong Hindu influence• Sculptures of Hindu and local religious heroes• Walls decorated with Hindu mythology• Small niches inside temples filled with stone or bronze
images of deities• Temple of Angkor Wat dedicated to Vishnu (protector)• Bayon (Thom) features head of King Jayavarman VII
depicted as bodhisattva Lokeshvara throughout the temple complex
• In movies…
CAMBODIA
• Buddhism entered Cambodia and became intermixed with Hindu traditions• Buddhist images were cast in unique style• Facial features were distinctly Cambodian• Next slide- niche created for Buddha
incorporating the Hindu kala-makara, a serpentlike creature that devours and repreduces time• Flames, decorations and tiny figures part of
Buddhist and Hindu iconography• Iconography- symbols used in a work of art,
symbols used during like period to establish artwork interpretation
CAMBODIA
Buddha Enthroned10th CenturyKhmer EmpireBronze
Ironically- even though Buddhism denounces worldly possessions and wealth, Khmer kings frequently showed wealth and power- hallmark of times
INDONESIA
• Buddhist influences most strongly affected Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Sumatra and Java• Sumatra and Java- two important islands of
Indonesia• Indonesia made up of 5 main islands and
hundreds of smaller islands• Buddhism reached greatest political height with
Shailendra kingdom in 9th century Java• Architects created one of the seven wonders of
the ancient world- Borobudor
INDONESIA
• Borobudor is a stupa that has 10 levels• Bas-relief carvings on the lower 6 layers represent the
cosmos• Bas relief- slightly higher than flat background• Lowest level represents hell and torment• Images were so grotesque that Shailendras themselves
covered the images with dirt ramparts• Next five layers represent humanity’s earthly adventures• Walkways on each square level lined with Buddhist
teachings• Sculptures show realistic understanding of proportion,
overlapping planes to show depth and graceful movement in figures
THAILAND
INDONESIA
• Sculptures with Burobudor provide historical records of clothing, architecture and ship building styles of the times• Four round layers finish off the top of the stupa,
representing supernatural elements• Largest Buddhist temple of all time• Over 500 individual Buddha statues grace its
interior• Buddhism declined after the Shailendras, but
continued to dominate other neighboring countries• Art as used in religious ceremonies
INDONESIA
Individual stupas as decoration
INDONESIA
INDONESIA
Ragidup are constructed from five components—two side panels joined to a larger central section consisting of a large panel in the middle and two end panels adorned with complex geometric designs executed in supplementary weft (a decorative technique in which additional crosswise threads are added to the textile during weaving). In each ragidup, one end panel is considered "male" and the other "female," the gender being determined by the specific patterns used. The ornamentation of the central field varies, here consisting of a bold series of longitudinal stripe
Met Museum of Art
Ceremonial Textile (Ulos Ragidup), late 19th–early 20th century
Toba Batak people, Sumatra, Indonesia
Cotton; L. 42 1/2 in.
INDONESIA
Puppet Head (Si Gale–gale), late 19th–early 20th century
Toba Batak people, Sumatra, Indonesia
Wood, brass, lead alloy, water buffalo horn, pigment; H. 11 1/4 in
If person died childless- these puppets were controlled to perform funerary rights to allow person to have same prominence after death
BURMA (MYANMAR) AND THAILAND
• Burmese art and architecture- high point in 12th century with construction of many bell shaped stupa temples in capital Pagan• Distinctive Thai architecture originated in same
time period with formation of first Thai kingdom at Sukothai in norther Chao Phraya valley• Stupas were constructed in the style of Burmese
and Khmers• Immense images of Buddha formed in clay, brick
and stucco and covered in gold leaf
THAILAND
Ayuthaya TemplesThailand
THAILAND
Royal PalaceBangkok Thailand19th Century
BURMA (MYANMAR)/ THAILAND
• Thai potters for royal courts created distinctive celedon glazes• Thai equivalents of blue and white porcelain were
made• Very decorative• Exquisite desings reflected taste and traditions
BURMA (MYANMAR) / THAILAND
Antique Thai Incised Stoneware Pottery Kendi Vessel Fish Sawankhaloke kilns
VIETNAM, LAOS AND MALAYSIA
• Chinese culture directly influenced a small area of Southeast Asia• Vietnam became independent of China in the 10th
century, Chinese culture was nonetheless emulated in its courts with bronze castings and construction of Buddhist temples• Influence carried over to neighboring Laos• Resulting Buddhist architecture is a mix of
Chinese, Thai and Lao traditions• Wat Xieng Thong roof- Chinese, overlapping roof
lines- Thai, decorative detail- Lao style
VIETNAM, LAOS AND MALAYSIA
• Islam became established in coastal Malaysia and Indonesia between 9th and 15th centuries• Architects produced distinctive mosques• Artists also produced elaborate bronze weaponry
(wavy edge kris dagger)
VIETNAM, LAOS AND MALAYSIA
VIETNAM, LAOS AND MALAYSIA
• Printed fabrics known as batik was one of the most notable art forms to come out of this area• Batik- coloring or dyeing process using wax
stencil to protect design areas from coloration by dying cloth or paper• Elegant and sophisticated court life required well
crafted bronze utensils and bejeweled royal objects• Court musicians played on instruments that were
heavily decorated with geometric and abstract patterns
VIETNAM, LAOS AND MALAYSIA
• Batik example
• Few images have survived over the years
VIETNAM, LAOS AND MALAYSIA
Example of bronze utensils
SOUTHEAST ASIA RECAP
• Lots of influence from larger surrounding countries• Artwork based strongly on religion• Increase in usage of color• Interpreted artistic styles and personalized them
QUESTIONS
• In what modern country was the Khmer empire located?• Why did each Khmer ruler construct a wat?• What is a wat?• Describe Borobudor in Java. Why did the
Shailendras cover the lower layer of this stupa with dirt ramparts?• How does the royal palace in Bangkok combine
the architecture of Thailand and the west?• What is batik? How is it made?