2 Audley Square
Mayfair, London W1K
UK
Founded in 1994, THE COURSE offers art history lectures, opera and literature courses, guided museum visits and London walks.
This course will introduce the art and architecture of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Java, Bali, Burma and Thailand. It will explore its sacred art, examine carvings, symbolism and iconography that express fundamental religious beliefs. Contemporary art will be shown in the form of painting, especially in Vietnam, influenced first by China then France during the colonial regime. A glimpse of colonial architecture in Indochina will enrich your understanding of the fusion of East and West and glorious weaving traditions will also feature throughout the region. A look at sacred dance will reveal exquisite rituals and dance dramas that have evolved and survived to reveal the soul of the people and the role of dance today.
VIETNAM: Ancient and Modern Artistic Heritage
Contemporary with the Khmer empire was the Kingdom of Champa in Vietnam. We’ll explore the sacred centre of Mi Son, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the sculpture of the Cham Museum in Danang. The French colonial architecture of Hanoi and Saigon will be compared as well as the traditions of painting on lacquer and silk influenced by the French but uniquely Vietnamese.