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

RA

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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?