The Lao National Art Museum

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I though this one deserved it's own thread, one because there's 35 photos and two because I was taken aback at the scale and modernity of it, having got used to Laos being a dusty backwater.

Interesting never the less. It's fortunate that they included "Art" in the title, because whilst here are many truly museum quality exhibits, some are very obviously new and visitor pleasing....

To get there, it's a near 1km walk over flooded rice fields

 

 

 

 

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Buddha

Pharaoh

Smiling

Father Time

Queen Victoria?

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More:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ensure you have your "Quite Voice" with you.

 

 

Turns out this is all the work of some rich guy, it costs to get in and he runs it, as a 'make a profit someday' venture.

An example of philanthropy in SEA that is rare these days.

As I wandered about and wondered at some of the 'newness' of some of the sculptures, there was a voice in my head.

Windsor Davies as Battery Sergeant Major Williams in the sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum - addressing the troops:

"All right you lot, today we are going to be carving! Your lot over there, you carve Buddhas, you lot over there, you carve other things from south east Asia. Right now get to it!"

I surmise that a lot of the wood used in the newer ones, came from stumps and offcuts, from all the "ahem" logging that the government doesn't do.

 

 

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Your photography?

Take note OH Framing is as important as the content.

I love some of the old Buddhas. I always search the old traditional markets in search of interesting ones. If my memory serves me correct I found one I was instantly drawn to in Vientiane when I was up there with MPIH. Buddha sitting on Erawan which I believe is a Laos tradition for controlling the clouds.

I was told once by a monk that if you feel a connection with a Buddha it is sign that it belongs in you life. I have a few but have passed on many. Had a great jade one which was stolen while I was working in PNG.

 

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Yes  my iPhone - I took a Nikon with me for the Laos trip but never used it, as every time I thought I'd use it, MLG turned the excursion into a "Take photo for me, take me photo..."  

The iPhone is good for those,  as I them hand it off to her and she can airdrop the ones she likes, that show her to the best advantage for InyaFaceYouTwitTok.

The Nikon is an old D5600 and was gonna be used for it's video capabilities so I could do a bit of movie work (unrealised personal project)

Next time I'm gonna have to make sure the trip doesn't include a house blessing.

Though I'm now informed it's every year for three years, though only two left and smaller ones.

On Buddhas, we now have a  6 inch shiny brass one, for our house, duly blessed and monked and such.