Masters: M007

Manit Sriwanichpoom’s Masters series critiques the commercialisation of Buddhism in Thailand, specifically the contemporary phenomenon of worshipping statues of famous Buddhist monks. These intentionally blurred large-scale portraits are based on miniature statues of monks that are sold in religious shops around Bangkok and are remarkable for their life-like visages.  

Unlike Western religions, Buddhism does not have a tradition of sainthood and so worship is reserved only for the Buddha. The manufacture and sale of such religious items reflects a cynical shift in the way Buddhism is practiced in Thailand, one that recognises the growing cult of celebrity in the Thai ecclesiastical world and its lucrative business potential. With this series, Sriwanichpoom suggests that the further one strays from the teachings of the Buddha, the more blurred our vision and understanding of the world then becomes.