Thai Traditional Art Black and Gold Buddhist Faith Painting, "Modern Golden Bodhi"

The spreading branches of a pipal tree – a variety of fig that grows in India – appear diagonally across the canvas in glowing golden tones. The tree is considered sacred. Buddha achieved enlightenment while meditating beneath such a tree, which then became known as a bodhi, or "enlightened" tree. Some of these trees in Thailand are said to derive from cuttings of the original bodhi, and people use stakes to prop their branches. With his painting, Saisunee depicts a place of spiritual calm.