CHRISTIAN DEVELTER

SCULPTURE SERIES

‘Mara Chin’, 2021

Dimensions: 177cm x 200cm

Medium: Original Stone Sculpture created from centuries old Angkorian grey blue sandstone

Price: USD 75,000 (exclusive of shipping)

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artist statement and inspiration

Mara (Sanskrit) ~ In Buddhist cosmology, Mara is associated with rebirth and desire.

Standing tall at 2m in height this sculptural masterpiece weighing in at 6.9 tons has been artistically created from centuries old Angkorian grey blue sandstone. Hand selected by the artist alongside his local master craftsmen for its incredible grain, colour and texture. The large 18 ton boulder was carefully and ethically sourced from a quarry situated in the historical Angkorian mountainous region of the Phrae Vihear province in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The vast freestanding work of art by Christian Develter has been inspired by Christian’s world acclaimed ‘Chin Series’ and meticulous carved out by a team of Khmer stone carvers building on ancient traditions and techniques going back to Angkorian times under the supervision of the Belgian born SE Asian artist. Taking his large scale works on canvas into the third dimension.

 
 

artistic Highlights

SCULPTURE & CHIN SERIES STORY

 
 

‘Mara Chin’ by Christian Develter

Christian’s ‘Chin Series’ is inspired by the beautiful & iconic Asian tribal women of the South East Asian Sino Tibetan ethnic group found in the remote Chin State of Myanmar. Their facial tattoos being a signature to their tribal identity and regional location.

This work of art by Christian is a homage to Siem Reap, it’s cultural heritage and the local craftsmen where he fondly calls home. His purpose built studio & residence is found nestled amongst the sprawling paddy fields a short drive from the city centre located close by an ancient Khmer Temple.

 
 
 

ABOUT - CHIN SERIES

In 2012, Develter travelled the Northwestern area of Myanmar extensively and visited the remote tribes of the chin region. The inspiration for this iconic body of work comes from the intricately tattooed faces of the Chin women.

The Chin tribe and their tattoos are relatively unknown to the outside world. These different tribes in northwestern Myanmar (Chin and Rakhine State) use tattoo marks in a centuries’ old tradition to distinguish one hill tribe from another or indicate their marital status and social rank. Together with the Derung tribe in Southwest China’s Yunnan province, they are the only tribe know to adhere to this practice. Both tribes are from the same Indo-Tibetan lineage.

These multiplex patterns are carved into the skin by thorns using a mixture of sap from a local plant (sourced in the jungle for the color), ash and chicken blood or buffalo kidney. According to legends, these ornate tattoos were originally done so that Burmese Kings would not be able to steal women away as wives. They have however, evolved to become symbols of strength and  beauty; reflecting nature – especially the animal and plant Kingdom -  and the animist beliefs of the tribe.

Examples of these complex and delicate tattoos include:

  • Spider webs on the face

  • The sun of the forehead

  • Reptile skin on the face, especially on eyelids, nose & chin

  • Tiger whiskers bellow the nose

  • Peacock plumage fan on the forehead

  • Leopard dots on the face (…)

For generations women have been willing to submit themselves to the pain of this art for the beauty it represents to them and their tribe. Deep in the unforgiving hills and jungle of the Chin state tattoos are still being carved on faces of young girls coming to age despite being forbidden by the government. With the opening of Myanmar’s borders, these women will soon come to represent the last of their kind.