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...

  Bridge Encounter , acrylic on canvas, 2025. 36" X 24"/91.4 cm X 61 cm This painting is inspired by a visit the artist made at the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park in 2020. In this scene, a muster of storks line up on the railings of both sides of a bridge, as a "muster" traditionally refers to the assembly of troops for inspection, and a group of storks can resemble an army of soldiers. The lizard is an Oriental garden lizard, which is very commonly found at the artist's neighbourhood. The pictures that inspired the painting

Oriental Legacy , acrylic on canvas, 2025. 24" X 24" The artist combines his love for animals and Eastern culture to produce this painting that depicts the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations grouped with their respective Chinese Zodiac signs. North - Black Tortoise - Pig, Rat and Ox East - Green Dragon - Tiger, Rabbit and Dragon South - Red Phoenix - Snake, Horse and Goat West - White Tiger - Monkey, Rooster and Dog The Four Symbols also represent four virtues: Black Tortoise - Stability, restraint, longevity Green Dragon - Life and imperial power  Red Phoenix - Happiness and bliss White Tiger - Power, fortune, marriage Given their divine status, the Four Symbols are said to be capable of shifting into various aspects of life, including the four seasons, protectors of Taoist temples and aspects of Feng Shui. The I Ching (易經), also known as the Book of Changes, traces the roots of the Four Symbols back to the beginnings of the world, and alleges that...

  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 defin...

  Flightless Wonders , acrylic on canvas, 2022. 24" x 31.5" All birds have wings, but not all of them can fly. These birds are mostly big and heavy, with some being the heaviest and tallest birds to walk the earth. They bear various features different to other birds. For example, ratites, the family which contains the ostrich, emu, cassowary and rhea, have downy feathers which lack the smooth, flat, airproof surfaces which other birds have for flying. They have sturdy, strong legs that allow them to run fast. The world's biggest and heaviest bird, the ostrich (left) is also the only bird with just two toes on each foot. It is also the fastest running bird, reaching speeds of up to 60 km per hour (37 mph). There are three species of rhea, which is a type of ostrich-like flightless bird that lives on the plains of Brazil and Argentina in South America. The greater rhea ( Rhea americana , top right) looks like a small ostrich but has more feathers on its neck, larger wings a...

  High-Flying Hunters , acrylic on canvas, 2022. 31.5" X 24" Birds of prey are characterized for their sharp, hooked beaks and curved claws called talons. Most are masterful flyers, able to stay in the air for hours while searching for prey with incredibly sharp vision. There are around 295 species of birds of prey, and they range across a huge variety of habitats, from mountains to rainforests. The golden eagle (top) is often called the "king of birds" throughout its range. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle, ranging throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It hunts small mammals such as rabbits and squirrels as well as small birds. It lives in nests called eyries atop high cliffs, where pairs return to breed or raise their young year after year. For centuries, this species has been one of the most highly regarded birds used in falconry, the activity where humans keep and use birds of prey to hunt. Because of its hunting prowess, the golden eagle is rega...

  Diverse Wildlife , acrylic on canvas, 2022. 31.5" X 24" Malaysia is one of the world’s megadiverse countries. It is also ranked 12th in the world, according to the National Biodiversity Index, which is based on estimates of country richness of life and species endemism. The country is home to over 15,000 species of flowering plants, 1,500 species of terrestrial vertebrates and about 150,000 species of invertebrates. The hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia. The  Hibiscus rosa-sinensis  species comes in a wide range of colors including red, orange, yellow, pink and even purple. The red-colored hibiscus is regarded as the national flower, as the color red represents courage and the five petals symbolize the five principles of the  Rukun Negara . In the painting, four hibiscus flowers are depicted in the colors featured on the Malaysian flag: red, white, blue and yellow. The tiger is Malaysia's national animal. Fewer than 150 wild tigers remain in Malaysia's fo...

  Garden of Natural Splendor , acrylic on canvas, 2022. 59" X 40" This artwork is based on Malaysian bird life. It depicts two Malaysian national symbols: the hibiscus (national flower) and hornbills (national bird). The Hibiscus rosa-sinensis species comes in a wide range of colors including red, orange, yellow, pink and even purple. The red-colored hibiscus is regarded as the national flower, as the color red represents courage and the five petals symbolize the five principles of the Rukun Negara . The dark purple hibiscus at the bottom is of the striking Black Dragon hybrid variety .  The pair of hornbills represent the two largest and most popular hornbills found in Malaysia: the great hornbill (left,  Buceros bicornis  AKA  Enggang Papan ) and the rhinoceros hornbill (right,  Buceros rhinoceros  AKA  Enggang Badak / Kenyalang ). The great hornbill is the heaviest of the hornbills and can be found in the northern part of peninsular Malaysia....

  Parliament of the Night , acrylic on canvas, 2022. 23.5" X 33" A group of owls is called a "parliament". There are more than 150 confirmed species of owls in the world and they are found on all continents except Antarctica. Most hunting birds fly by day, but most owls usually hunt at night. They rely on their superb night vision and acute sense of hearing to locate their prey in the dark. Owls vary in size but all are similar in appearance with a large, rounded head, no obvious neck and a saucer-shaped ruff of feathers called a facial disc around the large eyes which face directly forward unlike most birds. The owl is made a symbol of wisdom and knowledge since ancient times largely due to their success as hunters and their nocturnal schedules.  The great horned owl ( Bubo virginianus , left) is the most widespread true owl in the Americas. It actually does not have horns, as its ear-like tufts are simply extra-long feathers. It is one of North America's large...

  Polychrome Parrotdise , acrylic on canvas, 2021. 20" X 30" There are roughly 398 living species of parrot in the world today, inhabiting mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. The greatest diversity of parrots are from the Southern Hemisphere, mostly from South America and Australasia. Many parrots are vividly-colored, and some are multi-colored. Parrots are among the most intelligent birds, and the ability of some species to mimic human speech increases their popularity as pets. The scarlet macaw ( Ara macao ) has red, yellow and blue feathers. Its range extends from southeastern Mexico to northern and central South America (including Brazil). It is the national bird of the Central American country of Honduras. Like its relative the blue-and-gold macaw, scarlet macaws are popular birds in aviculture as a result of their striking plumage. The scarlet macaw can live up to 75 or even 90 years in captivity, although a more typical lifespan is 40 to...

  Poultry Galore , acrylic on canvas, 2021. 30" X 20" Poultry is defined as domesticated birds kept by humans for their eggs, meat or feathers. The most typical poultry birds include chickens, ducks and turkeys. The chicken breed featured in the painting is the Brahma chicken, known for its heavily-feathered legs and surprisingly large size which made it one of the world's largest chicken breeds. The Brahma breed was first developed in the United States from the crossbreeding of birds imported from China and Southeast Asia and was the principal breed raised for meat in America from the 1850s until the 1930s. Brahma chickens grow very large, with roosters recorded weighing 8 kg (18 lb) and hens 6 kg (13 lb).  Brahmas come in three color varieties: light, dark and golden buff. The hen in the painting is of the light variant, while the rooster is of the dark-golden buff variety. The chicks of the breed also reflect the color difference, with some chicks displaying dark or mi...

  Grace and Balance , acrylic on canvas, 2021. 30" X 24" Flamingos are a symbol of seemingly effortless grace and balance. These pink, long-legged birds are usually depicted as standing on one leg for a very long time even while sleeping, making them a symbol of balance. Not only are flamingos symbols of beauty, they are also symbols of something beyond beauty, and that is elegance. While beauty may be a product of nature, elegance is a product of design. Flamingoes are known for their graceful motions during flight. They are also symbols of vibrance because of their spectacular bright pink color. While they are born gray, as they grow up, they become shades of pink, hot pink, and sometimes reddish orange. This is due to the abundance of beta carotene in their diet, which is mainly comprised of algae, larvae, and crustaceans. In fact, the name "flamingo" is derived from their vibrant color. It means “flame-colored” in Spanish and Portuguese. Other water birds presen...

These bird paintings are made by the artist as part of his training journey. Quetzal , acrylic on art block, 2018 The resplendent quetzal ( Pharomachrus mocinno ) is a green bird known for its colorful feathers. The quetzal is regarded by Mesoamerican (Mexican and Central American) cultures as a divine bird and a representation of flying snake deities in their mythology. It is also the national bird of the Central American country of Guatemala, and their monetary unit is named after the bird. Mandarin Duck (male) , acrylic on art block, 2018 The Mandarin duck ( Aix galericulata ) is a spectacular-looking duck from east Asia, where it became a symbol of love and affection. The male (pictured) has the species' striking coloration, with multi-colored plumage, orange neck feathers and "sails" on its back.  Mallard (male) , acrylic on art block, 2018 The mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ) is the most widespread duck in the world and the precursor to the domestic duck. The male mal...