Revealing Krishna: Journey to Cambodia’s Sacred Mountain,
National Museum of Asian Art, Washington D.C.
Afternoon of free live programs, September 10, 2022 beginning at 1pm

As this exceptional exhibition comes to a close on September 18th, the museum has planned an afternoon of activities. Revealing Krishna transports visitors to a sacred mountain in the floodplains of southern Cambodia. The exhibition showcases a monumental sculpture of the Hindu god Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan to protect his people from a torrential storm sent by an angry god. For the first time, the sculpture is explored in the context of its original environment, as part of a multi-religious landscape and quite literally built into a mountain.

Curator's talk, 1pm
Step into the exhibition Revealing Krishna and take a journey to Cambodia’s sacred mountain of Phnom Da with curator Emma Natalya Stein. Walk through a sweeping cinematic corridor and feel as if you are traveling by boat down the river to meet Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan, a monumental sculpture with a 1500-year history.

Satook: A Screening and Conversation with praCh Ly, 2pm
Created for the exhibition, this short documentary examines the transformation of religious traditions through the ruptures of the Khmer Rouge genocide and immigration. praCh Ly is a critically acclaimed and award-winning artist.

Reception featuring Cambodian-inspired refreshments, 3pm

Story of the Serpent: Cambodian Dance, 4pm
Experience a dance performance by Mea Lath that explores the identity of the naga, the serpent deity, who poignantly gets caught in her own tail—a metaphor for struggles with identity in the wake of immigration. The program includes a traditional blessing dance and a contemporary work choreographed by Sophiline Cheam Shapiro. Dancer Reaksmey “Mea” Lath is a celebrated Cambodian classical dancer, instructor, and manager of the Khmer Arts Academy in Long Beach, California.

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