The Art of Khik Weng Keat

  Icons of the Rising Sun: Guardian of Tradition , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 16.5" X 24" This 4-part series commemorates the 70th anniversary of Japan's beloved  Godzilla  franchise and fuses the fame of the so-called "King of the Monsters" with the popularity of Japanese culture. Both these icons have become extremely well-known worldwide. In 2015, the character Godzilla itself was granted citizenship and appointed as the tourism ambassador for Tokyo's Shinjuku district. Part 2 of the series focuses on the  Heisei  era, which in the  Godzilla  franchise encompasses the late 1980s to the early 1990s. In the painting, the 1985 version of Godzilla (as depicted in the film The Return of Godzilla ) is seen near a volcano that spews out gold "lava" and koban coins, the scene being a reference to the film's climax set near Mount Mihara, an active volcano on the Japanese isle of Izu Ōshima. The gold "lava" is also a reference to  kintsugi (go...

  Icons of the Rising Sun: Power of Umami , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 16.5" X 24" This 4-part series commemorates the 70th anniversary of Japan's beloved Godzilla franchise and fuses the fame of the so-called "King of the Monsters" with the popularity of Japanese food culture. Both these icons have become extremely well-known worldwide. Part 1 of the series focuses on the Showa era, which in the Godzilla franchise encompasses the 1950s to the 1970s. In the painting, the 1954 version of Godzilla is seen breathing out crystals of monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer which is marketed across the world under the brand name " Aji-no-Moto ". MSG is a popular condiment as it has a savory taste, or umami taste, which is regarded as the fifth basic taste; characteristic of broths and cooked meats. Foods that have a strong umami flavor include meat and seafood. Japan is known to have a food culture based around their extensive seafood industry. The abun...