Brooklyn-based Philippine artist Ernest Concepcion maintains his fascination for conflict-based imagery in his solo exhibit at Blanc Gallery. In his past series of ink drawings called “The Line Wars”, for instance, it was highly evident that he waged battles even with his chosen materials. Different surfaces (paper versus acetate) and different drawing instruments (pencil versus Sharpie) emphasized the war theme, resulting in unusual clashes between rednecks and aliens, Sasquatches feasting on campers, and others.

Like a little boy playing with plastic army men and their peripherals, Ernest draws from imagination and his own historical contexts to come up with battle scenes made up of patterns, lines, and obsessive detail. Says the artist of his process:

I employ concepts of war in the process of creation, charging at each painting with renderings of fantastical elements onto straightforward historical imagery, and intervening onto tranquil landscapes with drawn armies marching across the horizon.

For this exhibit, Ernest chose enamel paint on canvas to replicate the material used on actual tanks and battle ships. The huge canvases show black and white renderings of war scenes. The lack of color emphasizes the starkness of destruction brought on by war, as can be gleaned by documentary images of World War II and other historical battles. Describing his paintings as “possible scenes from an unreleased war film by John Ford, with interventions by Max Ernst”, the artist came up with such works as “Metalheads on the Loose” and “Torpedo Bomber vs. Mosquitoes”. They depict scenes of clashes, but still loaded with Ernest’s usual tongue-in-cheek visual puns. Despite the violent theme of his new works, the smooth surface created by the enamel provides a visually alluring counterpoint that is almost serene and quiet.

“All Quiet on the Eastern Front” opens on Saturday 6PM May 26, 2012 at Blanc Peninsula Manila. For Further inquiries, please call/sms +63920-9276436 like “blanc gallery” on facebook or email info@blanc.ph.

The exhibition will run until June 16, 2012.

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