Exhibitions

‘Manifest Destiny’ by Arnont Lertpullpol – Number1Gallery

Number1Gallery

Sep 03 - Sep 24, 2022

^{Inspired by the boy in the striped pajamas, 2022, Oil on canvas, 200x330cm
All images by courtesy of Number1Gallery}

In collaboration with Number 1 Gallery, “Manifest Destiny” is the solo exhibition displaying a series of exquisite oil paintings by Arnont Lertpullpol. The masterpieces that capture a special attention are the depiction of crowds of ragged people or disheveled soldiers with monstrous faces and blank stares who are striving to survive and the one with a person whose suspicious smile completely conceals his villainy. Some of the paintings are produced by intentionally deposited hues while others simply by the drawing of lines, instantaneous movement of brushstrokes and exquisite colouring. These techniques are utilised to elucidate problems in politics, international relations, human relationships, competition for personal advantages and wars, provoked by world leaders and undeniably causing inestimable damage to mankind. 

There are three movements serving as a foundation for “Manifest Destiny”. First is racism —skin colour discrimination— where it is believed that those of a particular skin colour possess qualities and traits superior to others of skin colours different than theirs. Second is nationalism and the last one is expansionism, which is rather evident nowadays where certain countries emerged as world leaders in 20th century due to their increasing supplies of lethal weaponry, military resources and intention to initiate war. Such practices are exploited as a means to imposing their own political dogma on others so as to homogenise mankind irrespective of philosophical and cultural differences and to reap benefits for personal advantages deliberately without taking moral and ethical principles into consideration. Or is this the nature of what is called “power”?    

About the Artist

Arnont Lertpullpol is a senior lecturer in painting at the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts. He graduated from Silpakorn University, Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, majoring in visual arts. His artistic achievements were the first and second runner-up Excellence Awards in the 20th and 21st contemporary painting contest “Creativity for Fertility of Life” organised by Panasonic in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In addition, he also had a solo exhibition “Dee Prom” at People’s Gallery, 2nd floor, BACC in 2019.