The Art of Khik Weng Keat

  Avian Imposters , acrylic on canvas, 2026. 24" X 36" This painting is part of the Natural Mimicry series, which began with Camouflage Reef  and  Intimidating Imitator . It shows two types of flowers that resemble birds: the white pigeon orchid ( Dendrobium crumenatum ) and the red bird flower ( Euphorbia tithymaloides ). These plants are often cultivated as decorative plants for their unique, fleeting, or highly ornamental flowers. Red and white birds fly above the flowers to serve as comparisons to the flowers' unique shapes. Natural mimicry is an evolutionary tactic where a species develops traits such as appearance, behavior, or sound to resemble another organism or object, gaining survival advantages like evading predators or increased hunting success. This adaptation also results in striking visual, chemical, or behavioral resemblances that are highly valued for their aesthetic or "ornamental" quality, appearing almost artistic in nature, which is why the...

  Golden Captivation , acrylic on canvas, 2026. 24" X 36" The artist's first floral attempt on black canvas is inspired by a combination of flowers seen at a local restaurant, with the combination consisting of Strelitzia (bird-of-paradise flower) and yellow Cymbidium orchids (boat orchids). The harmony of this combination can be seen in a wide range of angles, including colour and symbolism.  Strelitzia  is seen as the flower of freedom, and also represents immortality, while Cymbidium orchids stand for morality, virtue, beauty, refinement, and love. In China and some other countries, Cymbidium symbolizes friendship and is popular at weddings.  The combination of these flowers suggests a captivating love that is both exciting and deeply loyal. Given their vibrant nature and celebratory meanings, they are often paired to symbolize the joy of special occasions, such as weddings, anniversaries, or new beginnings, representing a passionate and luxurious pairin...

  The Carnivore Club , acrylic on canvas, 2026. 16" X 24" In his first ever painting on a black canvas, the artist blends prehistoric life and anachronism into a fun picture of several top carnivore dinosaurs dressed up at a "club house".  The dinosaurs are dressed in Victorian-era hats while the Tyrannosaurus is wearing a crown, signifying its nickname as the "king of dinosaurs". The club house is set in a stony, cave-like background with a table inside of the sculpture of a dinosaur. The painting is inspired by the " Iguanodon  Dinner" on New Year's Eve in 1853, a dinner banquet held by sculptor Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, who created the famous archaic dinosaur sculptures at Crystal Palace Park in London, and attended by Sir Richard Owen, the creator of the word "dinosaur". The banner reads "when dinosaurs ruled the Earth" in Latin.

Heavenly Cycles , acrylic on canvas, 2026. 24" X 24" (61 cm X 61 cm) Fascinated by animals in a young age, the artist combines the design of a clock tower with the concept of Chinese Zodiac animals in a cycle around the clock, a reference to the Earthly Branches timekeeping system where the 12 signs of the Chinese Zodiac are asigned to the hours of a day. In real life, the Zodiac signs are assigned to every two hours in the 24-hour system (e.g. the hours of the Rat range from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM, while the hours of the Horse range from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM). The Earthly Branches timekeeping system is part of the Chinese 60-year cycle and was historically used alongside water clocks and sundials, and are fundamental in the Ba Zi (Four Pillars of Destiny) in Feng Shui and Chinese astrology to determine the hour, day, month, and year of birth, as well as the most suitable times of the day for activities such as weddings, offerings and other spiritual practices. The Earthly Branch...

  The Courageous Eight , acrylic on canvas, 2026. 48" X 36" (122 cm X 91.5 cm) The artist welcomes the Year of the Horse 2026 with a recreation of the popular Eight Horses (ba jun tu/八骏图) image in Feng Shui peppered with auspicious symbols.  Among all the 12 signs of the Chinese Zodiac, the horse stands out as the most dynamic, free-spirited and action-driven sign. Horses carry a vibrant life force, and a natural fire that moves quickly, thinks fast, and acts boldly. In the Chinese Zodiac, the Horse belongs to the fire element, and the Earthly Branch element of 2026's Horse sign is fire. This combination makes the Horse of 2026 not simply run, but ascend, where power meets power and destiny meets readiness. The luckiest number of horses to depict in a painting is eight, as it symbolizes speedy success, fame, and holistic growth, representing progress in career, wealth, health, and personal development. The number eight signifies the eight aspirations of life, bringin...