Devoted Buddhists in Thailand called Thursday for the destruction of paintings depicting Buddha as Japanese superhero Ultraman, provoking fevered debate about using sacred imagery in art.
The majority of Thais are Buddhist, and law on insulting religion carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail even if prosecutions are rare.
Buddha Ultraman Exhibited
The student artwork went viral on social media last week after the Holy Ultraman was shown in an exhibition three hours outside Bangkok.
The university has not disclosed the artist name over safety concerns. The artist offered a tearful apology to monks for the four paintings. Some paintings had a backdrop with Louis Vuitton logos.
But fringe group Buddhist Power of the Land filed a police complaint against her and four supporters for “hurting the Lord’s feelings.”
It’s up to the court to decide if the paintings get destroyed, according to a representative.
Get News Like this in you Inbox
Like More. Read More. Be in the know? Subscribe to our newsletter.