Negative and positive comments on the half-naked Apsara

Posted by vutha
January 29, 2009

After local newspapers published the photos of half-naked Apsara designed by Reahu (now this website is down), then there are negative and positive points of view about the paintings. But the government’s leaders criticized strongly the impact of the bare-breasted illustration. I now just republish the comments from my blog readers as following:

Khmerbird expressed his own opinion to support the idea of website owner by saying that:

I support the idea of such creating; if we look at in another way it’s nothing bad about this. If we look at the wall of Angkor Wat we found many naked Apsara. It’s true and it’s hard to deny but the painting should be reserved to certain ages to prevent any wrong intention of the teenager. The rest it’s art.

Thach Chitaro does not support the naked Apsara, he said that:

I like to welcome all of the criticism relate to this Apsara photo taken. I am really impressive by the idea of the cameraman who directly did it. I can neither complain nor criticize to this at this moment but it would suppose to have more significant sources in order to address the exact objective where can we build moderation and tolerance, without a clearly track we cannot judge it whether it is right or wrong. It may be it just garbage picture that it cannot harm the Khmer spirit. Thank you Vutha for upload this topic on your blog. I would suggest that if possibility let build a power interrogation by putting a discussion with find the way to deal or develop not only just say that “like it” or “Don’t like it” it is meaning that expansion the idea through discussion or bring the idea from Cambodian intellectuals.

For my basis understanding relate to this photo is that it seemly reahu.net website is running for his/her business way. Therefore, it is none of our business to criticize but if not, s/he could not say: “Please be open-minded, you must be able to see beyond the four walls surrounding your hut”.

It is not for fun to say that! The sculpture in the Angkor era showed that Apsara is meaning of the perfect ladies of course the admiration of Apsaras, otherwise, the writing system, political philosophy perhaps most significantly, the Hindu religion. We should be careful about what we say, but I am sure you may argue it just support your idea. Connection to this point, I would like to hear the sources from Archeology students or scholars who working on it.

“If this brings down the Khmer culture, then your Khmer culture is still under the Khmer Rouge. So, I take the pleasure of deleting them. A good Khmer Rouge is a naked one……lol”
I don’t understand with this paragraph so the writer must take responsible for it. What do you mean by Khmer culture still under the Khmer Rouge? Does he know Khmer Rouge? It is not relate between Culture and Khmer Rouge.

There is one problem that I want to share that I have found incredible dancing in nightclub through youtube I am not sure whether it is true or not but I hope to hear some argument from our civil society. Let take a look to the link as below:
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=-aDoGIJYgrk&feature=relate

Heng Phan said that the website owner is not real Khmer, saying that:

Three Important Point to identify that Reahu is Thai people:

  1. About at the top like: Picture of Reahu is look the same as Thai People because his hair is a modern Thai style “Split at the middle of head”
  2. At the left hand side of the website page: Enlightement: “Picture of Buddha” is a “Thai Style”
  3. The Airt of T-Shirt Design are all with Thai Style “Head of the Picture are Sharp”
  4.  The drawing picture of the Art Chapter III: “Ogre is a Thai style”

Rito Kaizen said:

I know there have lots of speculation about the half naked Apsara. To be honest, the original form/picture of Apsara on the walls is half naked and it is just a form of art finally. Art is extensive, limitless because it’s up to artist’s imagination, conception him/herself. I’ve seen naked fashion show through Fashion TV, and lots of naked fashion photographs in famous fashion magazine as well as paintings.

However, what I would like to criticize here is that the original Apsara (stone ones) are in a very peaceful, artistic, admirable and respectful long history from many Khmer famous kings (Khmer Empire). And at that time, dressing half naked like that was the culture, custom and tradition of life. While now is completely different, people don’t dress half naked in the daily. Dressing half naked like would means mentally ill. That’s why people don’t happy with what’s Reahu have done. IT IS ASSAULTING to the whole long well-known Cambodian culture. There are lots way to express your artistic way, for instance, doing the naked self-portrait or whatever in his private life. But this is a nation’s culture. There is no excuse of it’s in the 21st century or whatsoever. I think doing this way IS JUST TO EXPLOIT THE WHOLE CULTURE FOR OWN BENEFITS. That’s ALL!!

Moreover, what reahu stated in the first page (Reahu’s Note); […… So please! My prohook eating brothers and sisters this is art, one man’s point of view captured on canvas: An admiration of Apsaras as celestial beings. If this bring down the Khmer culture, then your Khmer culture is still under the Khmer Rouge. ……….. lol]

I think this guy is way to proud and losing self-control of what he is doing. I am feeling very sorry for him. ‘What does he mean that “prohook eat bros and sis”‘?? He himself expresses in a very narrow-minded writing, too much negativity towards others.

And “if this bring down the Khmer culture, then “””your””” Khmer culture is still….” That’s too bad!! What does he mean “your Khmer culture”??? Is he himself Khmer or others trying to bring up public interest for own’s gain.

We, Cambodian have suffered quite a lot, but we still survive. We still have a country to live and we still have a very well-known history from the very early century until now, although some centuries and decades were very rough. But the spirit of Khmer Ancestors still keep our country surviving from lots of bad fortunes (wars and wars and wars). See we still have a spot in the world atlas!!! So each one should be proud and helping to preserve not finding a way to exploit or taking advantage of it in the negative way.

Art is limitless but there are many other ways to express yourself like Van Gogh, Picasso, Rembrandt, Leonardo Da Vinci,… be one!!!

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