Ta Prohm
The ancient Cambodian temple of Ta Prohm shares
a profound symbiotic relationship with giant trees, whose roots
cascade down the ornate facades. The temple offers form to the
long roots, who in turn give structural support to the temple,
which would have otherwise fallen due to the intrusive nature
of the roots.
In some ways this relationship reflects Khmer
culture, to which the trees have borne witness for many generations.
Nearby Angkor Wat is covered with carved stone friezes depicting
extensive battle scenes between the Khmers and the Chams some
850 years ago. The destruction is echoed in this last generation
when Pol Pot led the Khmer Rouge to cause the death of over
20% of Cambodia's population (according to the Yale Cambodian
Genocide Project) with continuing destructive effects of unexploded
ordinance (UXO) that litter farmland. Yet Cambodians are survivors,
who steadily work to rebuild their lives. It's as if their roots
are creeping along societal structures imposed on them. These
roots will ultimately become the foundation for future generations.
After visiting the Ankor Wat complex during
the millennium, I left both in awe of the magnificent temples
as well as with concern for the people. It is with these mixed
emotions that I painted the series on Ta Prohm. Blood red crimson
spills from the grey stones and fills the atmosphere with an
alizerin haze. But what catches the eye is the how the light
falls across the massive roots. In a largely dark environ, the
highlighted roots emphasize growth.
Ta Prohm & Angkor
Wat
