Pisut ‘James’ Srisuwan on art, nudity, and photography

Nudity in the context of art dates back thousands of years, and as technology grows, photography has becomes a popular medium. Here, we talked to Thai photographer Pisut ‘James’ Srisuwan, one of the few Thai artists to really experiment with this subject.

The nude is a form of visual art that has existed since BCE. Although it’s normally associated with western works (Michelangelo’s David [1504], Botticellis’ The Birth of Venus [1485]), it has also been present in Asian countries (Hashiguchi Goyô’s Yuami [1915], murals found in Kandariya Mahadev Temple [1050]), as well as the Middle East (The Burney Relief [1,800 BCE], Dancers and Flutists [1,400 BCE]). As photography grew to be another prominent medium of art expression, nude photography arrives to the scene in modern times.

Still, nude art is not without its criticisms. Nudity is often seen by many as obscene more than artistic, and nude photography, in particular, can be seen as too “real” compared to other mediums portraying nudity.

Recently, we went over to talk to James Pisut about this topic. His first solo exhibition in 2022, “Coexistence” features a group of people, naked, emphasising how the shadow hits the skin. His recent trip to Singapore was to showcase his works under the theme of “Shibari,” or Japanese bondage. Here’s what he had to say.

[Image credit: James Pisut]

Q&A: Pisut ‘James’ Srisuwan on art, nudity, and photography

Tell us about your work.

When it comes to photography, I do both commercial work and fine art. In fine art, I emphasise on showcasing shadows and curves, specifically of the body. My works explore the topics of humanity, masculinity, femininity, and more.

Can you explain a bit about the exhibition you just held in Singapore?

It’s a continuation of the “I’mpulse Shibari Art Exhibition” that took place at 6060 Arts Space in 2023. Singaporean Shibari artists saw it and wanted to display this exhibition in Singapore to educate people. Shibari is more than just nudity and kink, but also art when you put in the effort.

What inspired you to get into nude photography and Shibari?

I like how the light hits the skin — that’s how I got into nude photography in the first place.

Of course, eroticism and art intersecting is not new, so I have been exploring my work towards that direction. To many, ropes that are fastened around the body feel like skinship, so my work on Shibari explores that topic.

How do you choose your subjects to photograph?

In “Coexistence,” I wanted to have different body types, no restrictions. After all, it’s the way I can display the nuances of the human body and how we should celebrate our differences.

For Shibari, I chose models that are more physically flexible. I wanted to display movement, both physical and emotional, even though it’s a still photo — the way ropes of different directions hold the subject. So, someone with a yoga background or similar is perfect for these kinds of works.

How is your work received in Asian society? Is it controversial?

To an extent, yes. When I first started, many people described my work as sexual and obscene. I think it depends on the artist: how we view the object determines how “sexual” it turns out to be, no matter if the object is nude or not.

But my work is directly inspired from conceptual art — paintings, statues, and such. Even though the portrayed human is nude, it still goes back to shadows and conceptuality.

You take an object from one core concept, and let it meet another object from another core concept. That’s how you let a new idea be born.

What is the difference between working with artists in Thailand and Singapore?

I think Singaporeans are typically more conservative. The Shibari exhibition is my first time displaying my works outside Thailand, and that gave me the opportunity to see the market there.

Lastly, any tips for taking your own nudes at home?

Make sure the lighting is on point. Lighting is very important, and can influence people’s emotions when seeing your photos. Have good lighting and see how it can affect people.

You can view James Pisut’s works, as well as more information, on his website.