University of Sydney / Faculty of Arts / Asian Studies Program / Staff / Academic Staff

Dr Martin Polkinghorne

PhD (USyd), BA Hons Class 1 (Flinders), BA (Adelaide), BManagement (Uni of SA)
Honorary Associate


Martin Polkinghorne is an expert in Khmer art and completed his PhD in 2008 at the Department of Art History and Film Studies, The University of Sydney with a focus on Angkorian architectural sculpture. His recent publications on Khmer art and architecture appear in Arts Asiatiques (2008) and Aséanie (juin, 2008). Martin has conducted extensive fieldwork in Cambodia over the last 6 years, contributing significantly towards the University’s Greater Angkor Project and has taught and lectured widely on Asian art history. From July 2009 he will commence an Australian Government Endeavour Research Fellowship to continue his research in Cambodia.

Research areas

  • Southeast and South Asian art and archaeology
  • Historiography of early and medieval Asia
  • Art history, archaeology and contemporary critical theory
  • Religious syncretism in Southeast Asia
  • Transmission and transformation of art and ideas across South and Southeast Asia.

Current projects

  • The artistic workshops and individual artists of medieval Cambodia and Southeast Asia
  • Art and architecture on the periphery of the Khmer kingdom
  • Architectural texts, ideals and models and their relationship with Southeast Asian temples
  • Consultant to Monash University’s ‘Landscapes of Angkor Visualisations and Interactive Map, led by Mr Tom Chandler (Berwick School of IT)

Selected publications

  • Polkinghorne, M. 2008. “Khmer decorative lintels and the allocation of artistic labour”, in Arts Asiatiques 63: 21 – 35.
  • Polkinghorne, M. 2008. “Ideal and Architects: Khmer temple pyramids, 7th to 10th centuries”, in Aséanie 21, juin: 65 – 88.
  • Polkinghorne, M. 2008. “Artists and Ateliers: Khmer Decorative Lintels of the ninth and tenth centuries”, in Udaya – The Journal of Khmer Studies 8: 219 – 242.
  • Polkinghorne, M. 2008. “The art, architecture and aesthetics of Angkor: from devout designs to divine devatas”, in R. Mackay and S. Sullivan (eds) Angkor: Heritage Values and Issues, Godden Mackay Logan Pty Ltd / The University of Sydney: Sydney, pp. 19 – 37. available online
  • Polkinghorne, M. and Fletcher, R.J. 2003. "Bounded Space: The Enclosed Galleries at Angkor." TAASA Review, The Journal of the Asian Art Society of Australia 12: 6-7.
  • Polkinghorne, M. 2001 “Cosmology and Khmer Architecture at Banteay Srei”, TAASA Review, The Journal of the Asian Art Society of Australia 10:12-15.
  • Polkinghorne, M. forthcoming. “Makers and Models - Local transformations of Indianisation in the decorative lintels of Angkor”, in P.-Y. Manguin, P. Ramasamy, and A. Mani (eds) Early Indian influences in Southeast Asia: Reflections on cross-cultural movements, University of Singapore Press: Singapore.

Areas of teaching and research supervision

  • The art and archaeology of Southeast Asia (Angkor Summer School ARHT2641)
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