The Dancer of Storms – A Visual Reimagining of Mekhala and the Thunder Tiger

This art series is inspired by a Thai folktale that has long been used to explain storms: the legend of Mekhala and Ramasura. Mekhala is a celestial goddess of the waters, holding a radiant crystal that dazzles and lures Ramasura, a giant who seeks to claim it. Every time the crystal flashes, lightning strikes the sky, while the sound of his axe clashing in vain becomes thunder.

In my interpretation, I reimagine Ramasura not as a demon, but as a majestic tiger – a timeless symbol of power, ferocity, and untamed nature. The tiger chases after the goddess and her crystal, embodying the primal force of storms. Instead of a battle of destruction, the scenes become a dance: water, light, and thunder entwined in eternal pursuit.

The series was created during a time of heavy storms and rainfall in my hometown, where lightning illuminated the skies and thunder rolled through the night. It felt like nature was alive with myth, echoing stories once told to explain the mysteries of weather.

By transforming this ancient tale into a surreal, international vision, I hope to make the imagery accessible beyond its cultural origins, while still honoring its essence: the eternal play between beauty and danger, light and shadow, goddess and beast, storm and silence.