Raja Sehari by Asher Yeo

The name of the piece, Raja Sehari, comes from a practice in which the bride and groom in a Malay or Peranakan wedding are considered royalty on the day of their union. Scrumptious, luscious, Peranakan weddings with lavish, embroidered wedding robes and a full set of heavy gold jewelry are now mostly considered a thing of the past, with most brides opting for modern wedding silhouettes with Peranakan motifs.

This illustration is inspired by the Arnolfini Portrait (Jan Van Eyck, 1434) and is a pale thematic imitation of the original, which was known for being a piece packed with iconography. Raja Sehari is a comparatively simpler depiction of a newlywed Peranakan couple, in an old house, coy with each other due to the unfamilarity of an arranged marriage and quietly exhausting from the day's proceedings. Having their photo taken, perhaps by a trusted relative or friend.

Art Print Details:

Giclée Fine Art Print (SGD 300)

Limited edition of 100, hand-numbered, unframed
310gsm Textured Fine Art Paper (100% Cotton, Acid-Free, Archival)
42 x 59.4cm (A2)

Artist Bio:

Asher Yeo is a freelance illustrator, writer and mythology nerd based in Singapore. Swerving between monochromes and bright, psychedelic colours. She gains most of her inspiration from the stories people tell through the ages and the way these are cataloged in their respective cultures.

@tororo.aoi