Artwork Collection

May the Yakshi Rise Again!

May the Yakshi Rise Again! is a series of mixed-media illustrations that visually synthesize South Asian women’s issues with feminist concepts found in ancient South Asian mythology, art, and literature. The series aims to shed light on the dichotomy of femininity in South Asian culture, by contrasting its historical veneration with its current persecution, to empower South Asian women to question their repression in modern-day society.

South Asian art women's issues feminism feminist art South Asian artist

Illustration

Cosmic Imbalance

“Cosmic Imbalance” uses the ancient South Asian composite deity, the Ardhanarishvara, to oppose the pervasive issues of gender inequality in present-day South Asian culture. The Ardhanarishvara is a half-male half-female deity, a composite form of... More

Illustration

Fear of the Yakshi

"Fear of the Yakshi" is an illustration that addresses the taboo of female sexuality in contemporary South Asian culture with the use of the Yakshi, a divine nature spirit found in ancient South Asian mythology. The Yakshi appears as a voluptuous... More

Illustration

Karmic Retribution

“Karmic Retribution” is a piece that imagines the spirit of Shakti, the embodiment of supreme feminine energy, avenging female victims of honour killings, violence, and abuse.

Illustration

The Dance

“The Dance” is a piece that refers to the dichotomy between present-day and ancient South Asian characterizations of the mother. In contemporary South Asian culture, the role of the mother is diluted to the submissive and dutiful housewife, where... More

Illustration

The Fall of Ganga

“The Fall of Ganga” uses the story of the Goddess Ganga, the personification of the River Ganges, to depict the contrast between the historical veneration of femininity in South Asian culture with its current degradation.

Illustration

The Fools' Position

“The Fools’ Position” is a play on a traditional Kama Sutra illustration to address the issue of sex education in South Asian culture. Sex and sexuality are topics ridden with taboo in contemporary South Asian culture and are hardly discussed as a... More

Illustration

The Temple

"The Temple" is a piece about the spiritual gatekeeping that takes place in South Asian culture. There is a common belief that womanhood is a hindrance to reaching spiritual enlightenment, which results in the misogynistic societal norm of... More

Work by

Thamara Perera

Illustration

“May the Yakshi Rise Again! is a series of mixed-media illustrations that visually synthesize South Asian women’s issues with feminist concepts found in ancient South Asian mythology, art, and...” [More]