Kutho : Golden Rock

KUTHO takes inspiration from a Burmese concept of merit. A common ritual undertaken by Burmese Buddhists is to cover their relics with gold leaf. Leaving a gold-mark is exclusive to male devotees for merit-making towards better karma. Women, in the guise of an impure status, are forbidden to approach. Religion and spirituality are two sides of the same coin that sometimes play antagonistic roles. All over the kingdoms of Indochina, in a similar way, monks/nuns are other topics to see the place of women in religion nowadays. To go beyond persistent stereotypes, I think that liberation of the soul is an endless work in progress.
I care about how an offering affirms the idea of a next life and empowers us by being used as a tool for that purpose.
Gold and Religion have an ancient relationship. The series talks about Power associated to Religion and the relationship between the visible / not visible, cult/occult, and parallels universes. I use the same leaf to seal my memory with the gold light, which grace, I can not access and post a question about the duality of human nature, on those cultural orders that are such assimilated, that not seen.

Digital photography direct shot. Hahnemühle Fine Art Baryta Giclee print. Manual intervention with gold leaves 24K

Medium size
45 x 30 cm
Artwork is unframed (2nd image is an example only)
Body series x35
Each piece are unique in the sense that each intervention differs because it is manual
Other sizes upon request

.....................................

Awarded photoseries
𝐏𝐗𝟑 : State of the World 2021 (Le prix de la photographie de Paris ) shortlisted
The Moscow International Foto Awards. Honor Mention
Muse Photography Awards. Gold winner
Tokyo International foto Award – Tifa2019
Siena Photo Awards. Commended. Creative

On exhibition now at PHmuseum "Erratic Dreams"