The Wishnu and Garuda sandstone statue (from Indonesia) dates back to 1043 AD and is one of the main highlights of the 'Lost Kingdoms' exhibition. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
The Lost Kingdoms exhibition at Muzium Negara in Kuala Lumpur is not your average ancient artefacts show.
It took senior curator Mohd Nasrulamiazam Mohd Nasir (Nasrul) and his team nearly two years to put together, complete with regional research work.
The Lost Kingdoms Exhibition
The Wishnu and Garuda sandstone statue (from Indonesia) dates back to 1043 AD and is one of the main highlights of the 'Lost Kingdoms' exhibition. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
A close-up detail of the 'Keris Madura' from Indonesia. The keris is a dagger unique to the Malay cultures of South-East Asia. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
'The Lost Kingdoms' exhibition took the curatorial team nearly two years to put together. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
The exhibition is divided into five sections at Muzium Negara’s Gallery 2. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
'The Lost Kingdoms' exhibition at Muzium Negara features 103 artefacts from the 1st to 14th century AD, found in the Malay Archipelago. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
The Okok Bangau are figureheads, in the shape of cranes, used on boats to serve as a guide for sailing. This was common in the Malay community from the east coast of Malaysia. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
The exhibition gathers the shared stories and nationhood links between 12 lost kingdoms. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
The Petala Indera Boat (from Kelantan), with a garuda as its figureheard, is similar to the Royal Kelantanese boat named Petala Sera. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
The 'City-State Kingdom In The Maritime Cultural Context' section of 'The Lost Kingdoms' exhibition features replicas of boats and ships and trade items used in these ancient kingdoms. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
This bronze Buddha Dipangkara statue, loaned from the National Museum of Indonesia, is considered one of the finest bronze sculptures from ancient South-East Asia. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
This Petala Indera Congkak, with the garuda motif, is made out of chengal wood, and is associated with the legacy of the kingdom of Langkasuka-Patani. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
A Pra Ram (Rama) Khon mask, an essential relic from Asian traditional theatre that combines Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
Inscription stones and steles were the primary information sources for historians and archaeologists. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
This granite stone Ganesha statue from the Kedah Tua kingdom is the oldest artefact found in 'The Lost Kingdoms' exhibition, dating back to the sixth century AD. Photo: The Star/Dinesh Kumar Maganathan
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