At first glance, Koke Lor's art is erotic. But his female depictions are inspired by apsaras that have danced across the stone walls of Angkor Wat and hundreds of other Cambodian temples for centuries.
'I put colour on stone,' says the Khmer-American artist. So the women in his portraits are painted in vibrant colours that are never seen on the ancient carvings.
To his supporters, Koke Lor has breathed fresh air into an art scene ground down by tradition and stoical efforts to rebuild an older, more nostalgic culture after the devastation of decades of war.
But in Cambodia, big brother is never far away, and Koke Lor has become a lightning rod for politicians. His e-mail inbox is also stuffed with hate mail.
One senior cabinet minister likened Koke Lor's art to porn. Few agreed, but she succeeded in shutting down the Khmer version of his website.
'My art is for adults. This is not for children,' the artist says. 'This is for anyone who appreciates the female form. It is a little bit erotic but definitely not pornographic. My art is quite tasteful. The women are sensual and I am not exposing women graphically - they are basically covered up.'
