Save the precious statues
The stone statues at the Champa Museum need restoring
The Champa Museum in Danang became famous for
its 294 unique sculptures created before the 15th
century. Tourism operators are making full use of the
tourist attraction to lure Vietnamese and international
vacationers to the central city. However, the
invaluable art works are deteriorating, forcing local
authorities to seek measures to prevent them from
turning into worthless stones.
It is now the rainy season in Danang. Rainwater often
leaks through the museum roof and falls on the
sculptures. A big Buddha statue in the museum's
Dong Duong Room has a crack near the bottom, and many statues of
goddesses and some altars are in a similar situation. It is easy to see
why the works have lost their original features and value.
Rainwater is not the only reason, however. Cement dust and chemicals
from nearby construction have coated female dancer statues and other
artifacts in the museum, causing them to fade and deteriorate during the
wet season.
Meanwhile, many carved works hung on the walls in the My
Son Room have been covered by green moss and musty layers.
In the same boat are nearly 65 statues and artifacts placed outside the
museum. They are being eroded by the weather, some of which have
large cracks in their lower portions. Shakes caused by construction work
of a road just outside the museum three years ago are to blame. In
addition, hundreds of cargo trucks running on the road every day to the
Han River Port are making the situation worse.
The deterioration of the Champa Museum has aroused concerns among
local and international experts. Many companies have proposed sound
measures to restore the deteriorating sculptures.
Bertrand Porte, an expert from the French-based Far East Museum,
arrived in Danang and spent three days studying the materials used to
create the art works. "This is very important in finding proper ways to
bring the sculptures back to their original conditions," he said.
With years of experience from working at the restoration workshop at the
Phnom Penh Museum, Bertrand Porte has presented a detailed project
to restore the deteriorating sculptures. The project is said to suit the
financial capacity of the Danang Museum and ensure that the works will
be revived and be better maintained in the future.
Richard Thomas, from Sydney University of Australia, has also
suggested a restoration scheme, under which only a limited number of
heavy trucks are allowed to run on the road. It is also required that oil and
petroleum warehouses nearby be relocated, anti-leaking systems be
installed at the Champa Museum and the sculptures be placed at wider
distances.
Not surprisingly, Bertrand Porte's project has been chosen because of its
feasibility and restoration work will start from February next year with
financial assistance from the French government, according to Ha Mai,
director of the Champa Museum. After finishing the job (scheduled for
completion in July of the same year), Porte will prepare a report on how to
maintain the sculptures long term and submit it to the French government
to allow more funds.
To protect the sculptures, the Museum Department is considering the
establishment of an artifact restoration laboratory at the museum as well
as training restorers for stone art works.
By Khai Ly - The Saigon Times Weekly - December 22, 2001.
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