THE CHAM CIVILIZATION
According to Chinese chronicles, the Champa kingdom was founded in 192 AD, and had different names such as Lin-Yi, Huang-Wang and Chang-Chen. Its territories have stretched from south of the NgangPass in QuangBinhProvince to the delta area of the DongNaiRiver in BinhThuanProvince.
The Champa kingdom was a federation of several smaller states called Mandala and comprised several ethnic groups. The most important legacy of the Champa kingdom is located in Central Vietnam in brick temples and towers form, which are scattered over the coastal lowlands and highlands.The structures date from between the 7th and 8th centuries to the 16th and 17th centuries and are concentrated in Quang Nam Danang, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan.
THE CHAM ART
The art and architecture of Champa civilization were largely influenced by Hindu and, later, Mahayana Buddhism. Nonetheless, no matter at what period or in what style the Champa artifacts were made, they always have displayed original characteristics.
The two periods of Champa art
The first period, from the latter half of the 7th century to the end of the 9th century, witnessed the brilliant development of Champa art, which reflected the most prosperous era of the Champa kingdom. Champa art during this period clearly exposed the Champa's aesthetic personality in a lively, fresh and liberal style.The statues of the first Champa kings with the characteristic big eyes and noses and thick lips of the native people, show their vitality and imposing appearance, create a deep impression with their vigorous, lively and exaggerated style. These carvings show the absolute belief that a supernatural force was supporting the rule of the
Champa kings during the period when Buddhism was the dominant force.
The second period lasted from the 11th to the 15th centuries. The devastating wars from the end of the 10th century onwards took the Champa kingdom into decline, and the relocation of the capital from Tra KieutoTraBan, brought about a new direction in their art. The second period of Champa sculpture had a different beauty. The decorative motifs on the animals statues became more ornate whereas those depicting humans became arid and dull, gradually losing the passionate and expressive characteristics of the early period. The art pieces discovered at Thap Mam are monumental sculptures of animals such as elephants, and Garudas, the holy birds, which served as protectors of the temples and towers. The Thap Mam style with its enormous artifacts represents the last efforts of a civilization on the decline.
THE CHAMMUSEUM
The museum was established at the end of the 19th century by the l’Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient. The building was designed by two French architects, Delaval and Auclair, in imitation of the most commonly used aspects of Champa towers and temples. In 1935 the museum was expanded to display the artifacts excavated at Tra Kieu.
Approximately 300 sculptures collected from Cham temples and towers throughout Central Vietnam are now displayed in ten showrooms of the museum. Most of the sculptures are original and mainly made of three kinds of materials: sandstone, terracotta, and bronze.
The eight centuries represented at the Champa museum seem as thick as a history book, and reflect faithfully the ups and downs of champa art.From inanimate stones came living art; and one gets the feeling that the warmth of the champa artists’ hands remains on the fine timeless stone. Simply by standing these invaluable masterpieces, one can comprehend the noblest idea of art, the creation of the infinite from the finite.
Art from Vietnam at Cultural Services of the French Embassy
972 Fifth Avenue
New York
Exhibition of reproductions of Vietnamese Cham civilization sculptures (7th-15th century) and monotypes by renowned Vietnamese artist Tu Duy.
Presentation by Frederic Brosson (in French and/or English) on Friday 03/26 at 6pm, Saturday 03/27 at 4pm, Wednesday 03/31 at 6pm, and Friday 01/04. Reservations:
Private visits for collectors: Information available in a few days on