The Art of Khik Weng Keat

  Mid-Autumn Moongazing , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 24" X 16.5" The artwork is made for the Mid-Autumn or Mooncake Festival and incorporates various elements related to the festival, including mooncakes, rabbits and lanterns, coming together to represent unity. The festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Chinese lunar calendar, when a full moon would be visible by night. The full moon in the night sky is a powerful symbol of unity, as it reminds people of the importance of family and loved ones coming together. Gazing at the full moon is a time-honored tradition during the festival, as it is believed to bring good luck and happiness to the family. The centerpiece of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations is the mooncake, which can come in various flavors ranging from red bean paste to green tea to charcoal durian. Representing the full moon, mooncakes are also potent symbols of unity, reunion and completeness. Lanterns are another essential element in the Mid-Autu

Extreme Frontier , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 36" X 36" The artist intends to highlight the scope of humanity’s exploration of the Solar System by including spacecraft among the nine planets. Most of the spacecraft (including the Vostok, Space Shuttle, International Space Station and Tiangong Space Station) are near the Earth’s orbit, some spacecraft landed on the Moon, while an unmanned space probe (Voyager 2) can be seen exploring the outer planets. The painting is further modified with the addition of animals based on constellations, namely Aries (ram); Taurus (bull); Cancer (crab), Leo (lion), Scorpio (scorpion), Sagittarius (centaur), Capricorn (goat) and Pisces (goldfish). This is a reference to the constellations' depiction in ancient star charts, which made them easier to identify and understand, aiding in navigation.  Our expanding understanding of the cosmos has the capacity to alter humankind's perception of its place in the universe, and the intention to exp

  Dino-Go-Round , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 24" X 16.5" This painting is inspired by the Blue Sky Carousel at Genting Skyworlds, and features a prehistoric-themed carousel with prehistoric animals in the place of popular carousel animals. Dinosaur heads are used as the decorations at the top. The "customers" in the artwork are various species of prehistoric primates.  This artwork is the artist's first attempt at incorporating paleo-art with "genre" art, which is combining prehistoric animals with aspects of contemporary lifestyles.  

  Mesozoic Mariners , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 24" X 16.5" The artwork depicts a Tyrannosaurus swimming past a scenery of marine life from the Mesozoic era. The artist intends to show the breaking of the boundaries between two different worlds, as the T. rex , a land creature, is shown to be able to swim. This act has been backed by fossil evidence - scientists found both ripple marks and mud cracks in a riverbed, indicating the dinosaur was swimming against a current, and noticed distinct claw marks that stretched 50 feet apart from each other, showing the T. rex  may occasionally have paddled long distances through water. Additionally, the dinosaur's hollow bones would have allowed it to swim. The aquatic creatures in the artwork include: Globidens , a mosasaur Platypterygius , an ichthyosaur Hydrotherosaurus , a plesiosaur Macropoma , small members of the coelacanth family Psephoderma , turtle-like placodonts Hybodus , a primitive shark Pachydiscus , an ammonite  Bacu

  Undersea Mountain , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 16.5" X 24" This painting is inspired by the documentary Wondrous Secrets Of The Ocean Realm: Mountain In The Sea , and depicts Indo-Pacific marine life in a large, mountain-like rock structure called a seamount. Supporting a wide range of biodiversity in the painting, the seamount represents strength and solidity as it withstands the changes in ocean currents caused by eddies. It also symbolizes dreams and hopes in a sea of possibilities. 

  Vibrant Migration , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 24" X 16.5" The artist showcases the five species of sea turtle found in Malaysian waters and places them in a scene inspired by the  sea turtle migration scene from the film, Finding Nemo . The five species are the leatherback ( Penyu Belimbing ); green sea ( Penyu Agar ); hawksbill ( Penyu Karah ); loggerhead ( Penyu Tempayan ); and olive ridley ( Penyu Lipas ). The various species of sea turtles and their young come together follow the current in a migration route, implying their journeys being shaped by similar forces toward a common goal. The "vibrance" refers to the colors of the turtles and the lively activity of the baby turtles.

The artist prepares several 8" X 8" paintings in preparation for an exhibition, showcasing land and sea animals as well as dinosaurs. DENIZENS OF THE DEEP Denizens of the Deep: Humpback Whale , acrylic on canvas, 2021.  8" X 8" Denizens of the Deep: Octopus , acrylic on canvas, 2021.  8" X 8" Denizens of the Deep: Jellyfish , acrylic on canvas, 2021.  8" X 8" SAFARI SIGHTS Safari Sights: Lion , acrylic on canvas, 2021.  8" X 8" Safari Sights: Elephant , acrylic on canvas, 2021.  8" X 8" Safari Sights: Giraffe , acrylic on canvas, 2021.  8" X 8" PREHISTORIC POP ICONS Prehistoric Pop Icons: Brachiosaurus , acrylic on canvas, 2021.  8" X 8" Prehistoric Pop Icons:  Triceratops , acrylic on canvas, 2021.  8" X 8" Prehistoric Pop Icons: Tyrannosaurus Rex , acrylic on canvas, 2021.  8" X 8"

  Crooked Jungle , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 24" X 24" A crooked man lives in a crooked wooden house in a jungle full of crooked trees and crooked animals. This painting is inspired by the rhyme " There Was a Crooked Man " and is dominated by crooked and bent designs. Crooked lines are employed to convey excitement, restlessness and/or anxiety, which is perhaps reflected by the chaotic situation in the painting. The situation may have caused the crooked man to get out of the house to investigate.

  Feline Fortune , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 24" X 24" The Lucky Cat is a well-known symbol of good fortune displayed in restaurants, cafes, shops, and homes around the world, but especially popular in Chinese and Japanese culture. The main cat in the painting is gold, which is the color most closely associated with money and wealth. The Lucky Cat usually holds a Japanese koban coin with one paw while raising the other. In the painting the left paw is raised, which is to beckon or invite customers. The artist adds other big cats such as lions, tigers and leopards which are symbols of protection and strength, as well as other auspicious objects of Chinese culture such as a bottle gourd, a peach and a ruyi (ceremonial scepter). When accompanied by wealth-associated objects, the big cats are also a tremendous symbol of wealth.

Twelve-In-One , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 20" X 20" The painting is a concept of a dragon having all the attributes of the other 11 creatures of the Chinese zodiac. The initials of the zodiac animals are seen around it. Rat: ears Ox: horns Tiger: striped fur on head and whiskers Rabbit: hind legs Snake: body Horse: mane Goat: beard Monkey: face and eyes Rooster: head comb, claws and tail feathers Dog: snout Pig: front legs The artist intends to show that the dragon is the most powerful sign of the Chinese zodiac by having the combined aspects displayed on the dragon.

  Blessing in Black , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 20" X 20" Series 6 in Colors of the Wild A black "panther" is a melanistic leopard found in the moist, dense forests of Africa and southern Asia. It has beautiful, glowing black fur. According to legends, the black leopard is a born leader and all animals follow it. Its nature is considered to be ‘diverse’ and ‘uncontaminated.’ The black leopard is also said to be more powerful, aggressive, and have stronger energy than other cats. With this leadership quality, a black leopard can represent and mean a lot of different things, including courage, beauty, grace, protection, wisdom, rebirth, patience, reclamation of power and ability to know the dark. In jungles, seeing panthers and leopards is considered an omen of triumph. Leopards and panthers are strong, proud, and fiercely independent, making it an emblem of bravery and martial ferocity. The dominant color scheme in the painting are dark and black hues, represented by

White Wonder , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 20" X 20" Series 5 in Colors of the Wild For many indigenous cultures of the Arctic regions, the polar bear is a powerful symbol of strength, courage, and adaptability in the face of adversity. Determined and persevering, it has all the qualities of a leader.  Polar bears are greatly respected by the Inuit people as the most intelligent animal in the Arctic, and as a symbol of the resilience, patience and determination that is needed to survive in the harsh climate. As the polar bear fearlessly traverses the frozen wilderness, it becomes a living testament to intense willpower and courage in the face of the unknown. It also symbolizes protection, especially towards its young. Whether on land or in the water, polar bears have no natural enemies, making them the world's top land predators. With their beautiful white coats, humans call them the kings of the Arctic.  The dominant color scheme in the painting are white hues, represented

  Harmony in Yellow , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 20" X 20" Series 4 in Colors of the Wild The lion is respected in many cultures as it is seen as a symbol of strength, courage, royalty, leadership, protection, guardianship, masculinity, fatherhood, resilience, endurance and duality. The female lion, or lioness, is viewed as standing for wisdom, femininity, motherhood and also protection. A pair of lions, especially a male and female pair, can represent a sense of balance and harmony. They symbolize the union of opposing forces or dualities, such as strength and gentleness, power and compassion, or yin and yang. The well known quote, 'behind every great man there's a great woman', can be represented by the relationship between the male and female lions. Lion cubs symbolize balance and harmony, as the "product" of the union of the two genders of lions. The dominant color scheme in the painting are yellow hues, which has traditionally been a symbol of confide

  Lucky Streak , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 20" X 20" The artist welcomes the Year of the Dragon with this painting depicting four young dragons playing a game of mahjong . The black dragon appears to have achieved a winning deck by drawing a 發財 " fa cai " (green dragon) tile, much to the shock of the white dragon sitting in its opposite direction, probably during a lucky streak. It implies a popular case of 食糊 (" sik wu ": winning off another player's discard), where the white dragon may have discarded the " fa cai " tile before it was drawn by the black dragon. The deck shown on the black dragon's side is shown to be "All in Triplets", where in the Hong Kong mahjong scoring rules, the player gets mostly combinations of 3 or 4 identical tile sets (碰 pung for 3 tiles, 杠 kong for 4). The dragons' winnings are shown as gold coins stored in money pots. The artist intended for the black dragon to achieve the winning deck as the bl

  Draconic Harmony , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 20" X 30" The artist welcomes the Year of the Dragon with this painting depicting Eastern and Western dragons gathering harmoniously. Asian mythology portrays Eastern dragons as auspicious, benevolent protectors, while western dragons are usually perceived as negative and destructive (although western dragons have more recently emerged as misunderstood beasts). Dragons inhabit the unconscious realms of both East and West. They had unique origins, diverse features, but much in common: claws and scales, strength of will, as well as a preference for riches and fortune. The inclusion of both dragon types suggest the complementing energies of Yin and Yang, as well as bridging the gap between East and West with harmony. The bottle gourd (also known as calabash or 葫蘆瓜/Wu Lou Gua) represents good health, prosperity, long life, wealth and abundance in Chinese culture. It is also called the “gourd of longevity" and is believed to remov

  Children of the Dragon , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 20" X 20" The artist welcomes the Year of the Dragon with a painting that depicts two mythological creatures which combine the aspects of the dragon with other animals. The qilin is sometimes referred to as the dragon horse. It is a fabulous creature of good omen, prosperity, success, longevity and enchantment. The qilin 's presence is said to attract the powerful cosmic breath of the dragon, thereby bringing good luck. It is also the symbol of the first rank military official. The  qilin  embodies all five elements and is often associated with the element of fire. The dragon tortoise combines the awesome powers and attributes of the dragon and the tortoise, two spiritually-endowed creatures in Chinese symbolism. While the tortoise symbolizes longevity, the dragon represents success, courage and determination. The dragon tortoise also signifies wealth when paired with gold coins or ingots. This mythical creature is also

  Celestial Progenitor , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 30" X 20" The artist welcomes the Year of the Dragon with this painting which depicts a golden dragon mastering the basic elements. A golden dragon represents abundance and prosperity. It is considered a guardian of the element earth, the center, heaven and the sun. The four orbs surrounding the dragon in the painting represent the elements of water, fire, metal and wood, which integrate the ever-changing cycles of the seasons. The red spider lily flowers in the top right are associated with abundance, prosperity, and good fortune. In Chinese culture, they are popular in Feng Shui for their ability to attract positive energy and wealth. Moreover, spider lilies are considered to be a symbol of renewal and rebirth, making them popular during the spring season.

  Nine Dragons: Celestial Prowess , acrylic on canvas, 2023. 20" X 20" The artist welcomes the Year of the Dragon with this painting which depicts nine dragons facing an orb of fire.  The painting is loosely based on another painting of nine dragons , which was designed such that there is a central dragon at the center `blowing' Qi. The dragon at the center approaches the flaming orb, and the dragons to the right and left twist towards the center, with each exhibiting different gestures. The dragon captures the essence of the sun and the moon, and the number nine represents the endless positive energy of heaven and earth. The artist includes background elements like clouds, waves, fire and cliffs, with the intent to include the five elements (earth, fire, water, wood, metal) aspect into the painting.  earth - cliffs fire - flaming orb water - waves wood - green color metal - gold color

  Azure Advent , acrylic on canvas, 2023. 24" X 18" The artist welcomes the Year of the Dragon with this painting depicting an azure dragon in the clouds.  The Azure/Green Dragon (Chinese: 青龍 qīng lóng), also known as Qinglong in Chinese, is one of the Dragon Gods who represent the mount or earthly forces of the Five Regions' Highest Deities (五方上帝 wǔ fāng shàng dì). The Dragon Gods in Chinese mythology are powerful weather and water deities, and are often seen as guardians of different regions, with the Azure Dragon associated with the East China Sea. The Azure Dragon represents the east and the spring season. Sometimes, it is believed to be the ancestor of all dragons worldwide. The 2024 Color of the Year in Feng Shui is sapphire blue, which not only brings its inherent qualities of serenity and wisdom but also aligns harmoniously with the energy of the year of the Wood Dragon. The element of Wood in Feng Shui is characterized by growth, vitality, and flexibility, and br

  Nine Dragons: Wealth and Prosperity , acrylic on canvas, 2023. 60" X 36" The artist welcomes the Year of the Dragon with this painting which depicts nine golden dragons and an abundance of wealth in the form of gold coins, gold sycees and red pearls. The painting seems to be inspired by the Nine Dragons painting by Chinese artist Chen Rong from 1244 (during the Song Dynasty). In Feng Shui philosophy, the dragon symbolizes prosperity and abundance. In Chinese culture, nine is the sacred number of the emperor. It was believed that the dragon king could change into nine dragon forms. The dragon in the center is supposed to represent the emperor (based on its pose), as traditionally, royal dragons have five toes or claws. The other eight dragons have four toes, and four-toed dragons are considered common and not part of the nobility. This conveys a message that wealth can be enjoyed, no matter the status, and that all classes can get along with each other in times of celebratio

  Radiant in Red , acrylic on canvas, 2023. 20" X 20" Series 2 in Colors of the Wild In many cultures, the deer is a symbol of spiritual authority. Deer symbolize the powers in nature that are not easily subdued. They also represent instinctual energy and spiritual independence. During a deer's life the antlers fall off and grow again and the animal is also a symbol of regeneration. This animal's peaceful serenity is a perfect example of what deer represents, and all together encourages a certain embracing of the divine. The deer in the painting is a red deer, a species which ranged from Europe to as far east as western China. In several European cultures, this majestic mammal symbolizes inner peace and harmony, and its regal presence represents grace and nobility. In China, the red deer is often associated with longevity, while in Japan, it is considered a symbol of strength and power. The dominant color scheme in the painting are red hues, shown by the deer, the pla

  Cosmic Conquerors , acrylic on canvas, 2023. 30" X 20" In the early days of rocket science, no one knew what spaceflight was like, which is why engineers flew animals into space to test the survivability of spaceflight and learn how to launch and land living beings safely and to better understand how spaceflight might affect human bodies. These efforts paved the way to the subsequent human exploration of space.  Animal space explorers The first animals to reach space were fruit flies, which were launched on Feb. 20, 1947 by the United States. The flies were placed aboard captured German V-2 rockets in an experiment to study radiation exposure at high altitudes. In 3 minutes and 10 seconds of flight, the fruit flies reached an altitude of 68 miles before parachuting back to Earth. The flies miraculously survived the spaceflight. The first animal to orbit the Earth was a dog named Laika, launched aboard Sputnik 2 by the Soviet Union on November 3, 1957. However, Laika died of

  Blue Nocturne , acrylic on canvas, 2023. 20" X 20" Series 1 in  Colors of the Wild In Native American traditions, the owl is called the Night Eagle. While the eagle is connected to the sun, the owl has a special connection with the night and the moon. The snowy owl is said to be a messenger who is responsible for carrying wisdom from the elders. In ancient Egypt, white owls were a symbol of royalty and a protector of souls. It is said that if you meditate with the owl, the answers to your questions will be revealed. Blue is the dominant color hue in the painting, as it is the color of wisdom, serenity, faith, and intelligence, all attributed to the symbolism of the owl. The moon also appears to be in a shade of blue, mirroring the phrase once in a blue moon : referring to something extremely rare in occurrence, which in this painting is the presence of blue tiger lilies. Tiger lilies are often associated with nobility in times past. Nocturne is defined as a picture of a nig

  Shrine of Harmony , acrylic on canvas, 2023. 24" X 16" The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac symbolize the earthly branches. In order, they are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs has a unique character that differentiates them from one another. Every individual is different to every other individual, as they attach themselves to factors (like race, religion, hobbies, etc.) which make these individuals appear similar although these things are shallow. Although some of the signs are conflicting with others (e.g. rat and horse, ox and goat, etc.) and may struggle to feel in sync with each other, building mutual respect and tolerance as well as accepting and appreciating differences in each other are vital for stability. Despite said differences, everyone is equal in their basic wish for peace and happiness. The painting is inspired by visits to Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur, where