CHAM ELDER PERFORMS RITUALMUSIC IN PHANRANG, VIETNAM. PHOTOGRAPHER: THANH PHAN
Curators: Mohamed Effendy bin Abdul Hamid, Emiko Stock, and Michael Schuster
Installation: Michael Schuster and Lynne Najita | Visiting Scholar: Thanh Phan, Vietnam National University
This exhibit was funded by a Title VI National Resource Center grant, with additional funding from Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Arts (Shangri-la) and the Hawai‘i Pacific Rim Society.
The Cham of Vietnam and Cambodia are one of the most fascinating communities in Southeast Asia today.
The Cham, descendents of the Kingdom of Champa that once ruled much of southern Vietnam, developed a vibrant civilization. Their achievements were manifest in the building of unique Cham temples (bimong) that can still be found scattered throughout southern Vietnam. Originally a Hindu empire, the majority of Cham people converted to various forms of Islam over the centuries. Both Hinduism and Islam greatly influenced Cham political, religious, and cultural life.
In Southeast Asia, Islam has been widespread since the seventh century A.D. It is more than just a form of religious identification; it allows for a sense of commonality within a highly diverse Southeast Asian region. Islam is a dynamic religion that has been adapted by its followers from its arrival from the 12th century to a form which has today became the basis for the ethnic and political identities of Southeast Asian societies and states.
How Islam is localized by Southeast Asian communities is a fascinating and complex study. This is especially so for the Cham people who have localized and understood Islam through their own cultural perspectives, a process which is not yet well researched nor well understood.
This exhibition illustrates visual aspects of Cham culture and how the Cham have preserved their identity
through ritual and religious practices, art and architecture, writing and language, and everyday life experiences.
The exhibition showcases textiles, ceramics,metal work, basketry, calligraphy, photography, and video fromVietnam and Cambodia that underline both the continuities and diversity across borders.
TEACHING ARABIC IN PHANRANG,VIETNAM
PHOTOGRAPHER: THANH PHAN
Special Events
All in the EWC gallery, admission free
Friday, January 22, 1:00-4:30 p.m.
Cham Symposium Cham culture and history will be discussed by six Southeast Asian cholars from Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, and Hawai‘i. Discussions will be of interest to the general public.
Sunday, January 24, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Opening Festivities including reception and walk-throughs by the curators.
ANCIENT SCULPTURE OF GARUDA
DA NANG MUSEUM OF CHAM SCULPTURE
Monday, January 25, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Visual presentation by visiting curator Emiko Stock, Cambodia,
‘‘Visualizing Cham Diversity in Cambodia’’
Sunday, February 7, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Visual Presentation by Paul Lavy, assistant professor, UHMArt Department,
“An Introduction to Ancient Cham Sculpture and Architecture”
Sunday, March 7, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Visual presentation by Claire Park, artist and lecturer, Pima Community
College, Tucson, Arizona, “Creating with Reverence: Art, Diversity, Culture and Soul,” a discussion of diverse art forms and artists from India, Japan, Mexico, and the U.S. Southwest native Americans.
EWC arts programs are supported by the Hawai‘i Pacific RimSociety, Friends of Hawai‘i Charities,
the Cooke Foundation, Atherton Family Foundation, Jackie Chan Foundation USA, and
generous contributors to the EWC Foundation, including members of the EWC Arts ‘Ohana.
Coming up:
AURA-J: Music from Japan
March 6 and 9, 7:30 p.m.
Contemporary repertoire,
UHM Orvis Auditorium
March 7, 4:00 p.m.
Japanese traditional repertoire,
EWC Imin Center-Jefferson Hall
KAbU Ni VANUA:
Dance & Music from Fiji
April 3, 8:00 p.m.
UHM Kennedy Theatre
Further information at http://arts.EastWestCenter.org
East-West Center Gallery
John a. Burns Hall, 1601 East-West Road
(corner Dole St. & East-West Rd.)
gallery hours:Weekdays: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sundays: noon-4:00 p.m.
Closed Saturdays and holidays
Parking on the UH-Mānoa campus is
normally free and ample on Sundays.
