FLORAL TYMPANUM

At any Angkorian monument, you will see a frenzy of floral decoration carved across the stone walls. Cambodian Buddhist wats continue the tradition, but mostly, the decorations are in precast molded concrete. The decoration is called k’bach, and behind the profusions, there is an ordered geometric structure and proportion that determines how the foliation is created.

At Wat Kong Moch, an abandoned spirit house lies adjacent to the community hall (sala chann). Only its multi-tiered tin roof remains. While the roof is meticulously painted in red fish tiles, the exquisitely painted four triangular tympanums catch the eye. The artist-decorator of this spirit house succeeded with their brush to create patterns of swirling leaves with a great sense of movement and depth. Over a dark green background, creamy leaves swirl and dance. A red peony centres the composition. At first glance, it appears chaotic, yet a closer look reveals the ordered, symmetrical, and evolving geometry behind it.