Revealing Krishna: Journey to Cambodia’s Sacred Mountain
- Special Exhibition
The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation Exhibition Hall
Digital rendering of “The Story of the Cleveland Krishna.” The mixed-reality tour culminates with a life-size holographic representation of the original cave temple on Phnom Da, where visitors are invited to walk around an artist’s re-creation of the sculpture as it might have stood. Photo and digital rendering: The Cleveland Museum of Art. Mixed-reality development partner: The Interactive Commons at Case Western Reserve University
Featured Art
About The Exhibition
Organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art, Revealing Krishna: Journey to Cambodia’s Sacred Mountain presents the story, context, and new restoration of a masterwork in the museum’s collection, Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhan. The 1,500-year-old stone sculpture from Cambodia, larger than life size, depicts the young Hindu god in the superhuman act of shielding his people from destruction.
Featuring an immersive, mixed-reality HoloLens tour, the exhibition places the sculpture in the southern Cambodian landscape and sacred space from which it came. In partnership with the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh and the Angkor Borei Museum, the Cleveland Museum of Art is displaying the newly restored work alongside other large-scale early sculptures from Phnom Da, generously lent from the National Museum and the Musée national des arts asiatiques–Guimet in Paris. Revealing Krishna illuminates the effect of global changes over the past 1,500 years on the discovery, disposition, and conservation of the sculptures from one of the earliest major Hindu sites in Southeast Asia.
The opening gallery transports visitors along a canal passage to the small twin-peaked mountain of Phnom Da where the Cleveland Krishna was found. Immersive projections on three walls and a soundscape recorded in Cambodia create a cinematic experience of the landscape where the sculpture was made. The first sculpture gallery presents art from the ancient city adjacent to Krishna’s sacred mountain, called Angkor Borei, or “Capital City,” in the Khmer language. The global story of the sculpture unfolds in a mixed-reality tour spanning 15 centuries and three continents. Visitors wearing HoloLens 2 headsets see high-resolution 3-D holographic projections of sculptural pieces accompanied by spatial audio and narration as they experience the myth of Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan and come to understand the sculpture’s history. The tour culminates in a life-size holographic projection of the cave temple on Phnom Da where the Cleveland Krishna appears to have stood. Visitors enter the sanctuary to find an artist’s re-creation of the sculpture showing Krishna supporting the mountain in which he stands.
Visitors then travel to the next gallery, where they see the newly restored Krishna sculptures, both from Cleveland and Phnom Penh, on view together for the first time. Accompanying them are three other large-scale early stone sculptures found on or near Phnom Da.
All eight gods from Phnom Da are reunited digitally in the next gallery in elegant, interactive projections. Created from a combination of photogrammetry and LiDAR scanning of the sculptures, 3-D models of the eight magnificent images are projected on individual scrims to be seen together at life-size scale as never before. In the final gallery of the exhibition, wrapping across two walls, archival photographs of the eight sculptures interface with historical images, present-day footage, and animated maps to illustrate the importance of open dialogue and mutual sharing of resources in the preservation of cultural heritage.
FAQ
What will I see in the exhibition?
The exhibition consists of six galleries, including four interactive galleries providing context and resources to illuminate the life story of this Cambodian masterwork.
Journey to Phnom Da
Enter the exhibition immersed in a video landscape and the sounds of the Cambodian countryside. Travel the waterways to the small twin-peaked mountain of Phnom Da where the Cleveland Krishna was found.Sculptures of Angkor Borei
View five Hindu and Buddhist stone sculptures from the ancient city adjacent to Krishna’s sacred mountain and its environs.HoloLens Experience: The Story of the Cleveland Krishna
Take a mixed-reality tour ending in a groundbreaking, life-size hologram of Krishna in the cave where it originally stood, using Microsoft HoloLens headsets. See “HoloLens Experience” section below for more details.Sculptures of Phnom Da
The main gallery features the highlight of the exhibition: the newly restored Krishna sculptures, both from Cleveland and Phnom Penh, on view together for the first time alongside other monumental works from the same site.Gods of Phnom Da
Life-size digital 3-D models of all eight gods from Phnom Da are reunited in elegant, gesture-based interactives. View the sculptures at all angles to discover their unique iconography.Global Journeys: Narrated by Angelina Jolie and Loung Ung
An immersive timeline follows the journeys of the sculptures and the effects of global change over the past 150 years, highlighting the museum’s evolving role in stewardship within the global landscape.When is the exhibition open?
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fridays, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Closed MondaysWhen should I arrive?
Plan to enter the line in the museum’s atrium 10 to 15 minutes before the time on your ticket.May I bring bags, cameras, etc., into the exhibition?
No large bags or other bulky items will be permitted in the HoloLens experience space. We recommend keeping any large bags locked in your vehicle.Is photography allowed?
Non-flash photography is permitted in all areas of the exhibition.Is the exhibition family friendly?
The exhibition is open to visitors of all ages. However, there are some things to know before visiting:- All visitors require a ticket for entry. Admission for children 11 and under is FREE, but they still require a ticket.
- Visitors must be 12 or older to participate in the HoloLens portion of the exhibition. Please see the “HoloLens Experience” section of the FAQ for more details.
- Space is limited within the exhibition.
- There is no reentry.
Is the exhibition accessible?
- The exhibition space is fully accessible.
- Seating is limited within the exhibition.
- The five-minute immersive timeline film, narrated by Angelina Jolie and Loung Ung, features persistent captions.
- The HoloLens experience has optional closed captions available upon request. Please alert a CMA staff member upon entry of the queue line at the HoloLens area of the exhibition if you would prefer to have closed captions.
- Visitors must be 12 or older to participate in the HoloLens portion of the exhibition.
- Please see the “Read the Fine Print” section of the FAQ for more details.
Are masks required?
The CDC and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health recommend wearing face coverings in public settings to slow the spread of COVID-19 and the Delta variant. The CMA requires visitors, staff, and volunteers to wear a face covering inside the building. All visitors 2 and older must wear a face covering, consisting of a mask or cloth secured to the face that covers the nose and mouth. Visitors younger than 2 are not required to wear masks inside the museum.In spring 2022, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) in Washington, DC, is presenting a different version of the exhibition Revealing Krishna: Journey to Cambodia’s Sacred Mountain that focuses on the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhan sculpture. The NMAA exhibition, which will be on view from April 30 to September 18, 2022, showcases the Cleveland Krishna in the context of its recovery from Phnom Da and includes three of the digital experiences developed as part of the CMA’s Revealing Krishna exhibition: “Journey to Phnom Da,” an immersive voyage through the waterways leading to the twin-peaked mountain; “Global Journeys,” a dynamic video timeline of the discovery and history of the sculpture; and “Gods of Phnom Da,” a life-size digital 3-D model of the Cleveland Krishna.
The NMAA exhibition includes an exclusive documentary directed by award-winning Cambodian American filmmaker PraCh Ly. Titled Satook—a word of blessing said during prayers—the film explores the relationship between present and past and how ancient religious traditions persist, transform, or are abandoned in the Cambodian American diaspora.
How can I purchase tickets?
Tickets are on sale now. The museum strongly encourages purchasing or reserving tickets online. Tickets can also be reserved by phone at 216-421-7350 or on-site at one of the museum’s ticket desks. Tickets are expected to book quickly and are not guaranteed. Your first choice of date and time may not be available, so please have other date and time options in mind when reserving tickets. Advance ticket purchases are highly recommended.As a member, do I need a timed ticket? How do I reserve one?Yes, everyone requires a timed ticket to enter the exhibition, including CMA members. Members may reserve their free, timed exhibition tickets online, by phone, or on-site at one of the museum’s ticket desks.
What is a timed ticket?
All tickets are timed, which ensures entry to the exhibition at a reserved date and time. Timed tickets are required due to the nature of the HoloLens experience, which is an optional, mixed-reality experience that takes place at regularly timed intervals.Is my ticket valid all day? Am I able to leave and return?
Unfortunately, there is no reentry to the exhibition. Visitors can access the exhibition only during the date and time shown on their ticket.How do I change the time on my ticket?
Exhibition times are limited, but we invite guests to visit our ticket desk to inquire regarding their entry time.Are tickets transferable?
Tickets are nontransferable, nonrefundable, and cannot be resold. Unauthorized duplication or sale of a ticket may prevent admittance. Ticket holders must present a government-issued ID card at the time of entry. CMA members must also provide their valid membership card.Can I purchase a ticket on-site?
Tickets may be purchased on-site at one of the museum’s ticket desks. However, tickets are expected to book quickly and are not guaranteed. Your first choice of date and time may not be available, so please have other date and time options in mind when reserving tickets. Advance ticket purchases are highly recommended.Do children require timed tickets?
All visitors require a timed ticket. Children 11 and under are admitted free, but they still need a ticket to enter the exhibition. Visitors must be 12 or older to participate in the HoloLens portion of the exhibition. Though visitors under 11 may not experience the mixed-reality HoloLens tour, they may enjoy the rest of the exhibition.HoloLens Experience: The Story of the Cleveland Krishna
“The Story of the Cleveland Krishna” is an optional part of the Revealing Krishna exhibition, in the third gallery of the exhibition. This is an 11-minute mixed-reality tour that uses 3-D holograms to explain the life story of the CMA’s monumental sculpture Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhan. This experience was developed in collaboration with the mixed reality development partner, the Interactive Commons at Case Western Reserve University.Using Microsoft HoloLens 2 headsets, you will hear music and narration and see 3-D holograms. Holograms and sound will guide you in groups of six visitors around the gallery, moving to a new station every two minutes to learn about different chapters in the sculpture’s life story.
Visitors must be 12 or older to participate in the HoloLens portion of the exhibition. Visitors who do not wish to take the HoloLens tour may bypass this gallery and continue through the remainder of the exhibition.
What is mixed reality?
Mixed reality combines both physical and digital elements, allowing you to simultaneously interact with physical and virtual environments. You can still see people, objects, and the room around you.How many visitors can enjoy the HoloLens experience at once?
Groups of up to six visitors will depart on the HoloLens tour approximately every 2 minutes. Visitors will travel together in their group through six stations around the HoloLens gallery. Because visitors move from station to station along with a timed narration, this means that up to 36 visitors may be active in the HoloLens experience at once. The experience is timed such that other groups will not interfere with your tour of “The Story of the Cleveland Krishna.” Visitors must be 12 or older to participate in the HoloLens portion of the exhibition.How do I use Microsoft HoloLens?
- CMA staff will hand you a HoloLens 2 device and assist you in putting it on, then collect the device from you once you have finished the experience. However, visitors are expected to navigate the space on their own for the duration of the 11-minute experience.
- You will wear the HoloLens 2 device on your head and lower the visor over your eyes. If you are wearing glasses, gently adjust the visor to fit over them. Twist the wheel in the back to fit the device snugly on your head. You will see images and hear music and narration throughout the tour.
- The HoloLens 2 device has a flexible band that fits over many hairstyles and head coverings, similar to wearing a construction or bike helmet.
How are the devices cleaned between uses?
CMA staff will clean the HoloLens 2 devices with disinfecting wipes and a microfiber cloth between each use. CMA staff cleaning HoloLens devices will be wearing gloves.HoloLens Restrictions: Is the HoloLens experience for me?
- Visitors must be 12 or older to participate in the HoloLens portion of the exhibition. This experience is not suitable for younger visitors due to the interpupillary range required to view holograms with HoloLens.
- The HoloLens experience is approximately 11 minutes long and will require moving through the space while wearing a mixed-reality headset.
- The HoloLens 2 device weighs 1.25 pounds. Visitors must be able to support the headset for the duration of the approximately 11-minute experience.
- CMA staff will help you put on the device, then collect the device once you have finished the experience; however, visitors are expected to navigate the space on their own for the duration of the experience.
- HoloLens headsets can be worn over most glasses and used with contact lenses.
- Visitors with photosensitive epilepsy should consult a doctor before using HoloLens.
- Please see the "Read the Fine Print" section of the FAQ for more details.
- Visitors who do not wish to participate in the HoloLens tour may bypass the experience and continue through the remainder of the exhibition.
Am I able to go through the HoloLens experience multiple times?
Visitors may travel through the HoloLens experience once per ticketed entry. If you would like to experience “The Story of the Cleveland Krishna” again, you must purchase another ticket.Meaningful innovation initiates relationships with artwork in Revealing Krishna: Journey to Cambodia’s Sacred Mountain. Through two sculptural and four digital galleries, the exhibition unveils the newly restored Krishna alongside related sculptures in an integration of art, technology, and experiential design. Learn more about the process of creating the four digital galleries and the team that brought them to life.
WARNING: HoloLens 2 Use Requirements
Visitors must be 12 or older to participate in the HoloLens portion of the exhibition. HoloLens 2 headsets accommodate most adults and children 12 or older.The HoloLens 2 device weighs 1.25 pounds and must be worn for approximately 11 minutes as the visitor moves through the HoloLens experience space.
An interpupillary distance (an eye measurement of the distance between your two pupils) between 51 and 74 is needed to correctly and comfortably view holograms with HoloLens. This range accommodates most adults and children 12 or older.
WARNING: Photosensitive Seizures
A very small percentage of individuals may experience epileptic seizures or blackouts when exposed to lights or patterns in mixed-reality or projected environments. Even people who have no history of seizures or epilepsy may have an undiagnosed condition that can cause photosensitive seizures while watching moving images.These seizures may have a variety of symptoms, including lightheadedness, altered vision, eye or face twitching, jerking or shaking of arms or legs, disorientation, confusion, or momentary loss of awareness. Photosensitive seizures may also cause loss of consciousness or convulsions that can lead to injury from falling or striking nearby objects.
If you experience any of these symptoms, immediately stop using HoloLens 2 and consult a doctor. Parents should watch for or ask their children about the above symptoms—children and teenagers are more likely than adults to experience these seizures.
If you or any of your relatives have a history of seizures or epilepsy, consult a doctor before using HoloLens 2.
WARNING: HoloLens 2 and Preexisting Vision Disorders
Good binocular vision is required to view stereoscopic 3-D content. HoloLens can be worn over most glasses and used with contact lenses. If you have a preexisting vision disorder, please consult a doctor before using HoloLens. A small percentage of people have a preexisting vision disorder that may be aggravated when using HoloLens.CAUTION: Using Mixed Reality Comfortably
Some people may experience discomfort, such as nausea, motion sickness, dizziness, disorientation, headache, fatigue, eye strain, or dry eyes when using mixed reality, particularly as they adjust to using it. If symptoms are severe or persist, consult your doctor.Motion sickness and related symptoms can occur when there is a mismatch between what you see and what your body perceives. If you are prone to motion sickness, get migraine headaches, have an inner ear disorder, or other health conditions, you may be at increased risk of discomfort.
Viewing 3-D or mixed reality is not known to harm vision development or cause binocular vision disorders. If you are not able to view the 3--D effect clearly and comfortably, consider consulting an eye doctor, as you may have a preexisting, undiagnosed binocular vision disorder.
Here are examples of certain situations that can increase your risk of discomfort:
- Being a new user. Symptoms tend to decrease as you become accustomed to using mixed or virtual reality.
- Devices may work best for users whose interpupillary distance (IPD) falls within a certain range. IPD is the distance between the center of the pupils of the two eyes. Users with an IPD outside the optimal range for the device may experience discomfort.
Sponsors
The exhibition is organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and in collaboration with the National Museum of Cambodia, the École française d’Extrême-Orient, and the Musée national des arts asiatiques–Guimet.
Principal support is provided by Rebecca and Irad Carmi, Mary Lynn Durham and William Roj, and the Rajadhyaksha Family and DLZ Corporation. Major support is provided by Raj and Karen Aggarwal, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, and the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust. Additional support is provided by DLR Group | Westlake Reed Leskosky, Carl T. Jagatich, the John D. Proctor Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Westlake Jr., and in memory of Dr. Norman Zaworski, MD. Generous support is provided by Dr. Michael and Mrs. Catherine Keith.
The Official Technology Partner is Microsoft.
This exhibition is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
“The Story of the Cleveland Krishna” HoloLens Experience was developed in collaboration with the mixed-reality development partner the Interactive Commons at Case Western Reserve University.
All exhibitions at the Cleveland Museum of Art are underwritten by the CMA Fund for Exhibitions. Generous annual support is provided by an anonymous supporter, Dr. Ben H. and Julia Brouhard, Mr. and Mrs. Walter R. Chapman Jr., the Jeffery Wallace Ellis Trust in memory of Lloyd H. Ellis Jr., Janice Hammond and Edward Hemmelgarn, Eva and Rudolf Linnebach, William S. and Margaret F. Lipscomb, Tim O’Brien and Breck Platner, Anne H. Weil, and the Womens Council of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
We recognize Dr. Gregory M. Videtic and Mr. Christopher R. McCann, who are graciously linked to this exhibition through the Leadership Circle.
The restoration of Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhan, expertly undertaken by Cleveland Museum of Art conservation specialists, was funded by a grant from the Bank of America Art Conservation Project.