Original Thai Expressionist Painting of Buddha, "Buddha's Breath"

Deep in meditation, Buddha is a serene presence in this elegant portrait by Sakchai. The artist selects a monochrome palette of grey and white, except for the golden Urna between his eyebrows. It represents a third eye, permitting him to see beyond the earthly world and into the spiritual world. The artist focuses on the brushstrokes rather than color to achieve images with simplicity and clarity, in this case, suggesting Buddha's breath and emphasizing the ethereal nature of spirituality.

Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist nation, filled with breathtaking ancient temples, pagodas and other architectural wonders constructed to worship Buddha. In Thailand images of Buddha play an important role beyond mere decoration. They are traditionally placed within the home in special locations, such as shrines or pedestals, to help facilitate everyday religious worship.