In Bangkok, there is the Buddhist temple Wat Pariwat, one of the most modern today because, among its decorations, you can find everything from a shiny Pikachu to a stone-carved Captain America and Mickey Mouse with his sexy pecs.
As if that were not enough, beneath the main altar there is a golden statue of David Beckham, which is why it is already being called ‘Beckham’s temple’. ⚽✨
But they are not there because they are sacred figures. They are part of an artistic intervention that blends traditional Buddhist iconography with characters from contemporary popular culture.
The mix has been interpreted as a kind of satire of the temptations and distractions of the modern world: instead of demons or traditional figures, recognizable characters and symbols from contemporary culture appear.
