Thanin Viriyaki
Like Atlas, the Greek Titan condemned by Zeus to bear the weight of the heavens on his shoulders for eternity, this incredible sculpture found in Ko Thai, a new Thai restaurant on Magnolia Avenue, portrays a man bearing the weight of this two-story restaurant’s second floor on his shoulders.
Of course, unlike Greek mythology, this is not necessarily an ode to a religious figure within the Thai culture, where Theravada Buddhism is the dominant religion — practiced by over 90% of Thailand’s population, according to the Association of Religion. To put this in perspective, the dominant religion within the U.S., Christianity, is practiced by 62% of the nation’s population, according to a 2025 Pew Research Poll. Ko Thai, which opened this year, was named one of our magazine’s Best New Restaurants.
Photo by Thanin Viriyaki - @severus_snapshot
