Life, Death and Magic: 2000 Years of Southeast Asian Ancestral Art

For thousands of years, across mainland and island Southeast Asia, the deification of significant ancestors and the veneration of spirits of nature has formed the basis of traditional beliefs. These beliefs are in turn the impetus for the creation of splendid and extraordinary works of art in fibre, stone, metal, wood and clay-made to protect and give pleasure to the living, to honour the ancestors and to secure safe passage for the human soul between this world and the afterlife.

Life death and magic: 2000 years of Southeast Asian ancestral art provides an evocative overview of the region's ancestral arts and culture, from prehistoric times to the twenty-first century. Beautifully designed, it is prolifically illustrated with works of art from countries and regions including Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, East Timor, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia and southern China which are drawn from museums around the world and the National Gallery of Australia's exceptional collection of Southeast Asian art.

Hardcover

Book condition: Very Good. Covers have light general wear plus trifle bumps to front. Internally very clean

Dust Jacket condition: No Jacket as issued

Author: Robyn Maxwell

Dimensions: 24.6 x 28.80 cm

Print length: 256 Pages

Language: English

Publication date: 2010

Publisher: National Gallery of Australia

ISBN:‎ 9780642334121