Bold red tones with the warmth of orange shades grip the eye and seem to vibrate with energy. Cool emerald with touches of aquamarine contrast in the background in strange ways, distinctly different but also so much the same. Gods and mythical creatures peer back at the viewer with confident and intimidating expressions. This is the work of Manit Srisuwan, a Thai-Chinese artist who refuses to be restricted by mediums or style but stretches bold themes across very different types of work.

Srisuwan’s body of work ranges from realistic portraits, bronze sculptures, illustrative line work, expressionistic paintings, and more. But he tends to drill down on themes revolving around Chinese gods and myths, often depicted in the of colors red, green, and gold. To him, the color red represents the inner soul and green captures life. When used in sculptures, red is more about helping to find inner peace and balance.

Skulls and death became a prominent theme for Srisuwan as the pall of the global pandemic slid over his psyche. It was a reality he felt forced to confront and he did so with sleek painting featuring soft shades and vibrant ornamental flourishes. That reality isn’t entirely bleak, however, and a full moon glows brightly in the background flush with possibility.

For all of Srisuwan’s range, he ties it all together nicely and has found a resolution with what once felt like opposing interests. Unable to choose one style specifically, he was torn between what he wanted to do until he finally realized they could all compliment each other. Now they transmit the same feelings and themes, helping him to communicate one large idea across different mediums.