Pagoda Murals on Show at SOSORO
- By Ou Sokmean
- April 4, 2024 9:55 AM
PHNOM PENH – The SORORO Museum is hosting an exhibition of pagoda wall murals dating back to the 19th century, showing the traditions and religious beliefs of Cambodians.
The exhibition, titled “Pigments from the past: scenes of Cambodia through pagoda paintings (1890-1970)”, highlights murals from 1890 to 1973.
They were photographed by Danielle and Dominique Gueret who did extensive research between 2004 and 2015.
“They have been working hard to document the paintings on the walls of more than 3,000 pagodas. museum co-director Blaise Kilian said at the opening ceremony. “Of these, 2,000 pagodas were photographed.”
Each mural depicts the artistic content of important historical sites. They also show the influence on society being of external factors in the late 19th century to post-independence modernization as well as role of King Norodom Sihanouk in uniting national sovereignty.
Kilian said the murals on display were a mix of traditional and religious beliefs connected to a contemporary landscape to show the talents of anonymous local artists who had left such a legacy through their work.
These murals also provided an in-depth understanding of everyday life of the Cambodian people and the influence of technological, cultural, political and social changes at that time, Kilian said.
The exhibition also aimed to show the evolution of mural painting techniques used in pagodas from traditional techniques to the use of modern techniques such as oil, vinyl and acrylic paints.
National Bank Governor Chea Serey said most of the murals were from pagodas in Battambang, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham and Phnom Penh.
“The exhibition is part of a reminder to us of the immense importance of preserving monasteries and murals as part of our national heritage,” she said.
This is the second non-permanent exhibition at the museum after the one on King Sisowath’s journey to France in 1906 held from October 2022 to August 2023.
The museum is open from 9am to 6pm from Tuesdays to Sundays.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this article was translated by Torn Chanritheara for Cambodianess.
