Seth Adams Statement
Why did I choose to travel  to Angkor?  Because of the political strife imposed on Cambodia it is only recently that Cambodia has been able to begin again its preservation of the ruins in Siem Riep. The artifacts are still very much exposed and documentation is still a much needed area of attention.

I studied the Ancient Khmer Kingdom and the cultural and religious influences on the architecture of Angkor Temples. The beauty and mystery of Angkor is evident on many levels and represented by architectural  brilliance; Khmer builders of the tenth through the thirteenth centuries erected  the most magnificent structures in the history of Southeast Asia. Intrigue and wonder lie in the inspiration of the builders and in cultural and religious influences on the architectural  and sculptural forms. Religious influences, such as the lotus bud which is a symbol of purity in Buddhism, are rendered in the stone towers of Angkor Temples. The idea of animism, a cultural belief that natural objects, including objects of art, possess a soul is still more intriguing and that artisans breathe life into their sculptures offers a different sensibility to the western counterpart.   Discoveries are still being made in the great temples that lie on the Angkorian plain.  Discoveries of ancient kilns that testify to a further aesthetic refinement which answer some of the questions of the regal order and succession have been found only recently.  These discoveries provide for a greater understanding of how the great temples were used.