This exhibition presents a monumental six-metre-long bronze sculpture of the Hindu god Vishnu, the largest ever cast in Southeast Asia. The sculpture, which depicts the creation of the universe from a dream, is on loan from the National Museum of Cambodia. For the first time in centuries, the sculpture is displayed in its full form. It was discovered in fragments in 1936 and only recently reassembled after extensive scientific research and conservation. The exhibition explores the sculpture’s history, the advanced artistry of its creators from a thousand years ago, and the cultural significance of water in ancient Angkor. An exclusive film by praCh Ly also connects the sacred past to the lives of the community today.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art — “Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean”
