PAKPOOM Silaphan brings his fresh interpretation of pop art to Castle Fine Art in Cheltenham, as East meets West.

The exhbition open on Saturday, May 20 and runs until Sunday, June 4.

Brought up in a rural Thai community, Pakpoom’s early access to the Western world came from the advertising of mega brands and commercial logos.

His early talent in art led him to pursue this academically, resulting in a Bachelor of Fine Art from Silpakorn University in Bangkok.

His interest in the West later spurred him to move here, achieving a post-graduate diploma in printmaking at the Camberwell College of Art and a MA in Fine Art from the Chelsea College of Art and Design.

Pakpoom’s unique and engaging art demonstrates an awareness of other cultures and environments, made universally relevant through internationally recognised symbols such as Pepsi and Fanta.

This use of mass consumerism is teamed with artistic influences from the likes of Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali to bridge the gap between East and West.

Pakpoom said: “I have always practised drawing and painting and I have always been interested in other cultures and the challenge of experiencing a new environment.

"The original endeavour of these global brands to sell products in different territories, inadvertently ended up assimilating many different cultures under one roof merely by using a strong graphic and the same sound.”

  • Pakpoom’s work will be exhibited at Castle Fine Art, Cheltenham, 82a The Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1NB, from Saturday 20th May – Sunday 4th June. The collection will then be on display for a further week.