The Art Institute of Chicago has recently decided to deaccession and return to Thailand a 12th-century Khmer pilaster depicting Krishna, marking a major step in provenance research. Long misattributed to Cambodia, the piece was confirmed through archival, stylistic, and on-site study to have come from Prasat Phanom Rung in Buriram province, Northeast Thailand. Its return recalls that of the reclining Vishnu lintel in 1988, which originated from the same doorframe and was later reinstalled during the temple’s restoration. Both works had traveled from Bangkok to Chicago in the 1960s, reflecting the challenges of tracing Khmer artifacts. Reuniting them at Phanom Rung not only corrects past errors but also restores cultural meaning by returning them to their original context.

Presented by: Nicolas Revire PhD, Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Research Fellow at Art Institute of Chicago.

Hosted by: Alison Carter PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon.

Event sponsors: Department of Anthropology, Global Studies Institute, Center for Asian and Pacific Studies, Department of History of Art and Archtecture, and Department of Asian Studies.