Curator Tour | Vishnu's Cosmic Ocean

Get an exclusive tour of with curator Emma Natalya Stein and view the largest bronze ever cast in Southeast Asia. Before the tour, enjoy a dance offering by Simi Mohanty, a Northern Virginia–based practitioner of Odissi for over fifteen years. Rooted in India’s temple traditions, Odissi offers a devotional vocabulary long associated with Vishnu.

Crafted one thousand years ago in the city of Angkor, this sculpture embodies the Hindu god Vishnu dreaming the universe into existence. Delve into the bronze’s original island-like temple and water’s cultural importance. Meet the present-day Cambodian community and explore the landscape in the exclusive accompanying film.

Please meet at gallery 22 for the tour. We recommend you register in advance.

Image: Composite image: (top) Vishnu Reclining on the Serpent Ananta (Endless One); Cambodia, Siem Reap province, second half of 11th century; bronze, mercury gilding; National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh; Photograph by Mario Ciampi, ©️ Guicciardini & Magni Architetti / (bottom) Still from the short film Awkun; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Film by praCh Ly

Image Alt Text: Composite. Above, bronze sculpture reclines, missing parts of torso and waist. Below, monk looks out at expanse of water.

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