Cambodian Bronzes head to the Getty

The Gods of Angkor, an exhibition showcasing some of the finest bronze sculpture from Cambodia has now moved to the Getty for the second stop of its American tour.

A small Cambodian bronze exhibit at Getty is rich with meaning
LA Times, 20 February 2011

In numerical terms, “Gods of Angkor: Bronzes from the National Museum of Cambodia” — opening Feb. 22 at the J. Paul Getty Museum — is a small exhibition. It consists of a mere 26 sculptural objects, about 4 inches to 40 inches tall, displayed in a single gallery.

But the cultural significance of the show is beyond measure. The selection of Hindu and Buddhist statuary and ritual objects includes some of the finest examples of historical Cambodian bronze work at the nation’s primary art museum in Phnom Penh.

Elegantly refined and intricately detailed, the sculptures include a 10th-century likeness of Maitreya, a Buddha-to-be with eight arms, a lustrous patina and eyes of silver foil and black stone. A triad of figures made in the late 12th or early 13th century features a Buddha seated on a serpent coiled into a chair, with human embodiments of compassion and wisdom at his sides.

Full article at the LA times.