Harit Srikhao, 2017
The Portrait of an Apsara, 2017
Created by Harit Srikhao in 2017. The artwork is an inkjet print on Epson satin paper and displayed at 124 x 100 cm.
In Hindu and Buddhist mythology, Apsaras are immortal nymphs that often appear as attractive young women whose purpose it is to seduce. This portrait by artist Harit Srikhao, part of the series Mt Meru, presents a modern, surrealist depiction of an Apsara. The visual idiom that the artist uses is derived from fetish fantasies, Buddhist symbols, and Thai culture. In Mt Meru, Srikhao reflects on the glorification of the monarchy in his country and comments on the role of depictions of the king in the Thai people’s everyday lives. Srikhao’s works have had their consequences: in the past, various of his images were removed from an exhibition in Bangkok because they criticised the actions of the military regime in power at the time.
© Harit Srikhao, courtesy of the Foam Collection
