Lectures and Presentations
New! View online: Temples of the Prambanan Valley
Previous lecture series:
Sacred Architecture of Java and Bali.
Similarities and differences in building style and iconography, as well as the historical background of Javanese and Balinese temple architecture will be illustrated by a slide presentation.
Unveiling the Secrets of Borobudur.
Constructed over a thousand years ago, the world's greatest Buddhist monument is found on the Island of Java. It's religious and symbolic significance will be discussed and illustrated with a slide presentation.
Bali, past, present, and future.
The island of Bali, one of world’s most popular holiday destinations, known the world over for it’s natural beauty, and vibrant religious and cultural traditions, has managed to keep it’s identity in the face of growing globalization. How has Bali dealt with integrating it’s complex history and traditions with the present, and how will it deal with changes the future will bring?. Some view points on these current issues.
Prambanan Temple Complex.
Stylistically very faithful to the Indian tradition, this is the most magnificent of all Hindu monuments in Indonesia. Consisting of a temple group dominated by a towering temple to the God Shiva, it is one of the last temple groups to be built in Central Java. An illustrated slide talk will discuss it’s various features.
The forgotten Islands of Eastern Indonesia.
The island group known as Nusa Tenggara is one of the lesser know areas of Indonesia, but one of the most fascinating. An illustrated slide talk will explain how life on these remote islands is different from that of western Indonesia.
Threads of tradition: Textiles of Indonesia.
Indonesia is one of the world's finest producers of hand woven, and other hand made textiles. A slide presentation will illustrate the many types of cloths used today for ritual and daily purpose. Their symbolic coding will be explained. Importance will be given to the "ikat" technique, as well as more well known batik process found principally in Central Java.
Tanah Toraja, the highlands of Central Sulawesie.
Relatively unknown until the beginning of last centaury when Dutch Christian missionaries converted the majority of this area and opened it up to the outside world, It remains one of the most beautiful and interesting places in Indonesia where ancient traditions are still preserved. A slide presentation will illustrate some of it’s most important features.
The development of Contemporary Art in Indonesia.
Since the beginning of the 20th, Bali has been influenced by western Artists visiting and working here, this has left a very distinct mark on the development of painting on this island. In Java, on the other hand, artistic development, while displaying certain western influences, has taken it’s own distinctive course. A slide presentation will illustrate development in Balinese and Javanese contemporary painting.
“Unity in Diversity” – an introduction to Indonesia.
“Unity in Diversity”, Indonesia’s national motto. The phrase dates from the great 15th centaury Majapahit empire in Java. It underlines a persistent theme in the history of this country, emphasizing a spirit of unity fostered in the face of multiple and often conflicting cultural, religious traditions. These themes will be discussed, and also the foreign influences that have helped shape this multi ethic country.
Ancient Angkor, land of the Khmers.
Angkor Wat, the supreme masterpiece of Khmer art, built in the first half of the twelfth century is basically a three level pyramid. The uppermost level is crowned with five towers. Above all else it is a microcosm of the Hindu Universe. This presentation will explain Angkor Wat’s most important features, it’s historical background. Notice will also be given to other important temples in Angkor and surroundings.