Cambodian people have inherited the exceptional heritage of Angkor which was built by Khmer ancestors during the medieval period. Angkor does not only represent religious temples in today Siem Reap region, but it also refers to a great civilization that was flourishing in Southeast Asia between ca. 9th and 14th century A.D. In the capital city of Angkor, Khmer ancestors constructed many sophisticated architectural features, irrigation systems and other water bodies that formed one of the finest and greatest city in the world during the late first and early second millennium A.D. Because of its greatness and magnificent architectural features, the Angkor region was registered as one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1992. More than a great capital city of the ancient Khmer Empire, Angkor is, today, a place that contributes to the development of today's Kingdom of Cambodia.

Angkor still demonstrates, even today, its majestic cultural architecture involving religious monuments, irrigation systems, and man-made water bodies that show the talent and capacity of the Khmer ancestors to incorporate sophisticated technologies into a well-managed urban center controlling and using the water from the natural rivers and streams. The archaeological features that remain from the Angkor Civilization are invaluable legacies to further understand the then technology, artistic and ideological values, religious, socio-economic and political structures, and the lifestyle of the people and society of the Angkor Period.

One of the ways to understand the lifestyle and ideology of Angkor civilization is to study the bas-reliefs, motif, decoration and carvings on the wall of ancient temples. Thanks to the photographs Mr. Baku Saito took of the faces of Bayon and this exhibition of the "Holy Faces of Angkor" we have a great opportunity to glance at the life of the Angkorians. The Royal Government of Cambodia strongly believes that the "Holy Faces of Angkor" exhibition, initiated by Mr. Baku Saito, is a forceful expression of the Kingdom's culture and history and that it will usefully contribute to strengthening our national identity.

As a photographer of cultural heritage, Mr. Baku Saito has taken not only great photos of the "Holy Faces" in the temples but he has also many charming photographs of ordinary Cambodians and of their everyday life. Mr. Baku Saito has visited Cambodia since the early nineties to photograph the faces of Bobbhisattva. He has been profoundly charmed by the four-faces of the Bayon towers. Since that time, he has achieved admirable photographs which had never been published. The exhibition includes 173 faces of Bayon central tower, 20 faces of five gates of Angkor Thom external wall and 32 faces of surrounding temples such as Ta Prohm, Ta Som, Banteay Kdei, 30 faces of Banteay Chmar temple (unfortunately two of which have fallen) and four faces from Preah Khan temple. In total, 259 photographs are exhibited.

The same exhibition of "Holy Faces" and faces of ordinary Cambodians has been held in many places throughout the world: Paris, New York, Tokyo, Seoul and others.We would like to take this opportunity to express my special gratitude to Mr. Baku Saito, Photographer of the "Holy Faces" of Bayon Temple and to Mr. Yukio Imagawa, Chairman of C.M.A. "The Holy Faces of Angkor" Executive Committee and former Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia for the promotion and dissemination of the Great Angkor Heritage to the world.

Venue : At the Royal University of Phnom Penh CJCC/Multi-purpose Hall (Russian Federation Blvd)