WITH Bart Simpson still leading his own particular cultural revolution at the age of 20, the absorption of Western media influences remains a hot issue in Asia.

As for Captain America and the Incredible Hulk and Spiderman . . . well, just how would you gentlemen have dealt with the Red Guard and post-revolutionary China?

And besides female tailwaggers, what turns on Bugs Bunny more? Kamasutra or carrots?

The walls at the D Gallery at the Royal Phuket Marina are leaping and lunging and filled with Western superheroes and cartoon characters in Eastern settings.

They're the product of Thai artist Jirapat Tatsanasomboon, who mixes and matches the bold Western images with Asian images, often those of similar heroes from hundreds, perhaps thousands of years ago.

In this era of cultural immersion and the franchise, when Western culture clashes with Asian culture, which one wins? How would the Heroines sisters of Phuket fame fare against Batman and Robin?

Khun Jirapat is simply documenting the Zap! Pow! Doh! impact, rather than declaring a winner.

There's probably a few thousand years of struggle yet before the answer becomes clear.

Khun Jirapat's works, grouped as an exhibition entitled Stranger, are now on show at the D Gallery following last night's opening, along with some gentler pictures by other Asian artists.

D Gallery, 076 360867 e: info@dgallery.co.th