Arjay Stevens – APSARAS

APSARAS heavenly dancers
Arjay Stevens
edition photoArt
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In 1996, soon after I first came to Cambodia I discovered one of the wonders of the world: Angkor that great legacy of the ancient Khmer culture.

Even today many people still believe this only means a single temple called Angkor Vat. But in fact it is a huge area of many hundred square kilometers covered with temples and monuments, many still needing international collaboration to preserve them from the jungle and man-made destruction.

Angkorian temples are not only located in the Siem Reap province, but are in other parts of Cambodia and in neighboring countries as well. These temples are world famous not only for their magnificent architecture, but also for the unique art they display even after many centuries.

Some of the most beautiful and touching decorations are the divine and graceful females that can be found at almost all Khmer temples ravishing Apsaras.

APSARA (Literally translated from Sanskrit, “moving in water”) was born in the beginning of the world out of the ‘Churning of the Ocean of Milk’ according to Hindu myths. In the Angkorian Empire Apsaras also represent the art of dance.

Even after a thousand years or more most of Apsaras bas reliefs endure. They survived attacks of nature, civil war, and the ‘Khmer Rouge’. The “German Apsara Conservation Project” (GACP) undertook a remarkable 20 year scientific and technical effort at Angkor Vat temple to successfully protect and preserved about 1840 Apsaras.

These celestial nymphs, heavenly dancers – sometimes differentiated as Devatas depending on their stance – had and still have their expression in the art of dance in contemporary Cambodia. Apsara dance still represents the Khmer culture and national identity.

Ever since I discovered these artistic sculptures at the temples as well as the Khmer dance form in real life I wanted to unite them with the help of my photo-graphy. I do hope that this book will show my deep admiration of many years for that part of the art and the culture of my host country.

Last but not least I would like to take this the opportunity to thank all the wonder-ful Cambodian dancers and their great masters for their determination and spirit.
Arjay Stevens Berlin / Phnom Penh