The Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati
About this video
This video examines a pair of 1,000-year-old Cambodian stone sculptures of the Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati. It explains Shiva's creative and destructive powers and Parvati's role, then shows why the sculptures are masterworks: the contrast between smooth polished skin and finely carved jewellery and clothing, and a gentler, more approachable way of showing gods.
You'll be able to
- explain why Shiva is linked to both creation and destruction.
- describe how the sculptors contrasted smooth and textured surfaces.
- explain how these figures show a change in the way deities were portrayed.
Key words
- Deity
- A god or goddess.
- Contrast
- Putting very different things side by side, like smooth skin next to detailed jewellery, so each stands out.
- Masterwork
- An outstanding work of art showing great skill.
Transcript
these figures are the Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati curator forest Magill Shiva has very powerful both creative and destructive capabilities as a deity so he's associated with fertility but also with the power of destruction and sometimes that destruction has to come about in order for a new rebirth or a new flourishing to take place Parvati is his wife and she was also worshipped in her own right as a separate deity despite their damaged limbs these 1000 year old sculptures are masterworks because they survived as a pair they are examples of the incredible sculpture created in Cambodia at that time there's the wonderful contrast of they're very smooth polished skin and then the very intensely detailed jewellery many
Cambodian stone sculptures of this period would have had real gold jewellery added to it I like to urge people to look at their bracelets look at their big necklaces look at these bands that go around the middle of their torsos with this incredibly detailed reproduction in stone of what would probably have been gold jewelry it was typical of this period for artists to contrast large smooth surfaces with highly textured areas in addition to the jewelry look at the pleats carved into their clothing these particular figures also reflect a change from the formal way deities had been portrayed emphasizing their might and godly distance from mortals instead here they appear more young attractive kind and
understanding the comparison that comes to my mind is with the ancient Greek gods like Apollo or Aphrodite whose physical beauty and approachability is part of what attracts us to them you
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