In 2000, artist and academic Gilles Massot's focus turned to research with the 2003 book “Bintan, the phoenix of the Malay Archipelago”. Our collective archive features a selection from Gilles Massot's photography slides archive of Riau Islands taken between 2000-2003, which were made during the course of his research.

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PDF of his book is available online: https://www.academia.edu/43507986/Bintan_Phoenix_Of_The_Malay_Archipelago

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Last row of images, from left to right:

Working in the temple: Monk and female devotee shaving sugar cane on the floor in the front hall of a temple

Vihara Dharma Sasana: Inside of a temple dedicated to Yu Huang Shang Di in the Vihara Dharma Sasana

Temple interior: Front hall of the temple

Burning offerings: Back view of a female devotees burning offerings by the roadside

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