Natee Utarit: Clash of civilisations

SINCE the early 2000s, Thai artist Natee Utarit has made a name for himself fusing Western historical art influences, such as Renaissance and Baroque styles, with incisive social and political commentary on South-east Asian identity and politics.

His latest exhibition at STPI begins with a thought experiment: What if Buddha had journeyed West and encountered Greco-Roman culture? Using this speculative lens, the artist delves into complex themes of decolonisation, identity and cultural hybridity, and explores the interplay between Eastern and Western traditions.

In a screen print series titled Buddha Napoli, Utarit overlays Buddha’s form onto a classical Western etching, and then adds a final layer of bold, stylised contemporary graffiti.