Faces of the Angkors by David H. MillerBy RALPH J. BELLANTONI, CORRESPONDENT
MyCentralJersey.com
The towering, enigmatic faces of the Bayon temple at Angkor Thom peer serenely from the walls of Gallery 14 in Hopewell.
The impressive images are from David H. Miller's exhibit, "Faces of the Angkors.'' Miller currently serves as president of Gallery 14 and is one of its founding members. Through infrared photography, he has captured some of the awe-inspiring artistry of the massive stone faces and figures from the ancient Khmer capital.
The expansive city-temple complex of Angkor Thom in Cambodia radiates exotic beauty and mystery with its profusion of sculptures, towers and bas reliefs surrounded by lush jungle. King Jayavarman VII established the city as the capital of his empire in the late 12th century, and the majestic countenances on its towers may be modeled after his semblance.
Photos by French archaeologists from 1968 show Angkor Thom reclaimed by the jungle - the ruins overgrown by massive trees, the titanic faces swarmed over with roots and vines. Miller's contemporary images reveal Bayon's powerful portraiture restored to its innate sublimity, basking in sunlight or profiled against the surrounding wilds.
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