蘭普‧坎沙諾

A man and woman on a motorcycle are doused in water by their friends. Their carefree and joyful expressions are intensified by their exaggerated, caricatured features. Thai artist Lampu Kansanoh, draws our focus to the happy-go-lucky nature of the natives of the Land of a Thousand Smiles in this depiction of the Thai Songkran Festival - their traditional New Year celebrations. Hers is a record of the immediate expressions of a moment in time, with their eyes squeezed shut and their mouths agape in laughter, and the bright, cheery colours she uses to enhance the liveliness of the scene. Believing that only optimism can release us of our sorrow and sufferings, she models her characters after her family and friends, hoping to show simple people who are contented with their situations. Buddhists believe that only with the experience of suffering, can one truly revel in happiness. The fact that one cannot help but smile, if not laugh at the sight of her paintings, clearly attests to her artistic success as her primary interest has always been to make people happy through her works.