The Art of Khik Weng Keat

  Hymenopus coronatus , acrylic on canvas, 2026. 24" X 36" The orchid mantis ( Hymenopus coronatus ) is a species of flower mantis that lived in the lush rainforests of Southeast Asia. It has  evolved to mimic orchid flowers as a hunting and camouflage strategy, "hiding" themselves in plain view and preying upon pollinating insects. The four walking legs resemble flower petals, and the toothed front pair is used as in other mantises for grasping prey.  The painting perfectly captures the mantis's elegant, solitary and mysterious essence, with a natural colour combination of pink, cream and soft green. Handled with a rare cleanliness and exquisite delicacy, it also comes with a touch of persistence within its delicateness, as well as an interplay of light and shadow against a pure black background, creating an almost tranquil visual poetry. This refined and  visually striking mastery of composition stems not only from keen intuition but also from the accumulatio...

  Fungal Floral Paradise , acrylic on canvas, 2026. 48" X 36" This artwork continues a series beginning with Rafflesia's Garden , this time adding fungi and a series of colourful tropical animals from the equatorial regions. Equatorial regions, particularly the lush tropical rainforests spanning Central and South America, Central Africa, and Southeast Asia, are home to some of the most vibrant creatures on Earth, which use their bright colors for camouflage, display, and warning signals to ward off predators.  Fungi such as mushrooms are an important component to the equatorial rainforest ecosystem, as they drive critical nutrient cycling through their role as decomposers, form symbiotic relationships that sustain canopy trees, and regulate the rainforest's local climate by triggering rain formation.