Lilli Waters

In Thai cosmology, Devaloka is the realm of divine beings, radiant and free from suffering. Red and orange fish move like a wandering constellation across the arabesque, while orchids open gently around them, suspended in a world that feels both underwater and celestial.

The fish themselves are imbued with the essence of Devas, celestial beings of great beauty, long life, and pleasure. Black markings on their bodies symbolise balance, reflecting the dark within the light and the coexistence of beauty and fortune alongside reminders of suffering, impermanence, and the presence of life even in darkness.

Says Lilli Waters of her photographic series ‘Sunken Water Gardens สวนใต้น้ำ’, “I explore my Thai heritage and ancestral mythology, drawing from the Buddhist cosmology of Traiphum, the Three Worlds, encompassing the celestial (heavenly), the terrestrial (earthly), and the infernal (underworld). These ethereal underwater still-life landscapes intertwine plants, flowers, and fish to create tranquil, meditative scenes that reflect my preoccupation with the natural world while connecting to cultural memory. Offerings of flowers and water become gestures linking the living with the divine.

"I have always felt a detachment from my Thai heritage, yet I see it reflected in the way my mother looks and in gestures that feel familiar. I am
deeply curious about what has been carried across generations, the weight of trauma and nostalgia, the silences, the absences, and the things never spoken but deeply felt. Through my underwater still-life photography, I explore the intersection of these cultural identities, blending traditional Thai symbolism with contemporary artistic expression."