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Richie Nath

Tropic of Cancer, 2026

colored pencil, gouache and watercolour on Canson® Aquarelle paper 60% cotton, 300gsm, acid-free

38 x 56 cm (paper) ; 57 x 72 x 2 cm (framed)

Framed: 57 x 72 x 2 cm

Inv: RN_2026-002

(English below)

[FR] Le titre "Tropic of Cancer" est emprunté au roman autobiographique de Henry Miller, dans lequel il raconte sa vie dans le Paris des années 1930. Dans le livre, Miller erre dans la ville, traversant relations, obsessions et rencontres avec des expatriés comme avec des habitants locaux. L’artiste se reconnaît dans ces expériences, y retrouvant des échos de sa propre vie parisienne.
L’attention récurrente du roman portée au corps humain comme lieu à la fois de plaisir et de souffrance reflète la tension entre le spirituel et le matériel. La peinture traduit cette dualité à travers l’image d’un homme-poisson et d’un roi Nāga partageant les petites joies éphémères de l’existence.

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[EN] The title "Tropic of Cancer" is drawn from Henry Miller’s autobiographical novel, in which he recounts his life in 1930s Paris. In the book, Miller wanders the city, moving through relationships, obsessions, and encounters with both expatriates and locals. The artist relates to these experiences, finding echoes of his own life in Paris.
The novel’s recurring focus on the human body as a site of both pleasure and suffering mirrors the tension between the spiritual and the material. The painting reflects this duality through the image of a merman and a Nāga king, sharing the small, fleeting joys of existence.

About the artist

Richie Nath

Burmese

b. 1995

Richie Nath (b. 1995 in Yangon, Myanmar) is among the most acclaimed artist from Myanmar, who has found his artistic home in Paris since 2021 as a member of artists in exile. Having grown up in Myanmar and completing his studies at the London College of Fashion in 2017, Richie's paintings delve into the realms of queer self-reflection, identity, and dreams.

Blending the mediums of illustration and painting, Richie Nath employs a vibrant color palette, intricate forms, and the human figure to explore the nuanced complexities of identity, eroticism, and politics. His artistic expressions are deeply rooted in his personal experiences as a youth in a conservative society, capturing the intricacies of the human psyche. Inspired by Greek mythology, Egyptian gods, and Buddhist folklore, Richie's works serve as gateways to his inner world.

Richie Nath's work has been featured in numerous exhibitions worldwide, including An Oyster Without a Pearl, Galerie Bao, Paris (2026), Erect, TRAX Gallery, Ahangama, Sri Lanka (2025), Censures, Atelier des Artistes en exil, Paris (2024), France Against the Tide: Myanmar Art in the Moment, Karin Weber Gallery, London, UK (2024), Phenomena, duo exhibition with Đỗ Tuấn-Anh, Galerie BAQ, Paris, France (2023); Mère D'Exil - Regards D'Artistes, La Cité Miroir in Liège, Belgium (2023); This Too Shall Pass, Spinello Projects in Miami, USA (2023); STOP WARS, Magasins Généraux in Paris, France (2022); Fighting Fear, 16 Albemarle in Australia (2021); Notes From The Motherland, Aicon Contemporary in New York, USA (2020); The Foot Beneath The Flower: Kitsch Art in Southeast Asia, NTU ADM Gallery, Singapore (2020).

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