Carved in Light – Bas-Reliefs of Angkor
Photographs from the Spirit of Angkor series by Lucas Varro
Along the shadowed galleries and hidden inner walls of Angkor’s temples, the stories of the gods unfold—not in voice, but in stone. Here, warriors march in divine formation, celestial battles stretch across centuries, and sacred epics are carved into the living temple with a precision that breathes. These bas-reliefs are more than adornment; they are scripture. Prayer made visible.
Born of myth and devotion, each panel once glowed by torchlight, guiding pilgrims through tales of dharma, duty, and transcendence. In their intricate lines, you can still feel the rhythm of chisel against stone—and the silence that followed.
In this focused collection from the Spirit of Angkor series, Lucas Varro turns his analogue lens toward these sacred carvings. Captured on large and medium format black-and-white film, each image is shaped through long exposure, chiaroscuro, and hand-toning—revealing not only the precision of form, but the resonance of presence. A deity glimpsed through shadow. A warrior poised in silence. A dancer stilled mid-turn, as if the stone still remembers movement.
Printed in limited editions on museum-grade Hahnemühle Bamboo paper, each work is accompanied by a Collector’s Print Package including poetic writings, curatorial notes, and field reflections from the artist’s temple pilgrimages.
This is a gallery of stone voices—each relief a sacred echo, carved in light.
