The Art of Khik Weng Keat

  Jungle Jamboree , acrylic on canvas, 2026. 36" X 48" This artwork continues a series beginning with Rafflesia's Garden , this time centering on another large flower from the Southeast Asian region: the titan flower ( Amorphophallus titanum ). Endemic to rainforests on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, this flower is the largest unbranched inflorescence (a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a main stem) in the plant kingdom. This close relative of the konjac plant can also grow up to 3m (9 feet) tall and boasts a powerful odour often compared to the stench of rotting flesh, which is most potent during peak bloom at night into the early morning. The unique scent of the large flowers actually had a purpose: they attract their own host of pollinators such as carrion beetles and flies from across long distances.  The blooming of the titan flower can be said to bloom for just 2-3 days once every two to three years, making it a very rare occurrence in quite...

  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...

Paradise Meadow , acrylic on canvas, 2023. 54" X 17" The Strelitzia or bird of paradise flower is a symbol of various aspects including freedom, identity, glamour, faithfulness, joy, and paradise. Native to South Africa and now a popular flower in tropical places around the world, the  Strelitzia  is associated with many positive qualities and some spiritual meanings. The bird of paradise flower is sometimes called a crane flower because it resembles an elegant, long-necked bird. Its long stem and colorful blossoms resemble a bird with a long beak and tuft of colorful feathers on its head. These flowers, analogous to the crest of colorful feathers, grow in bunches that resemble a flock of vibrant tropical birds who are ready to take flight. Hence, the bird of paradise flower is a symbol of freedom. In addition, this native plant of South Africa also symbolizes opportunity. A land where one group of people once ruled over another (in colonialism and later, apartheid), South Af...

  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....

 A collection of flowering plants and small animals that blend harmoniously. Water Lily and Frog , acrylic on canvas, 2021. 10" X 16" The painting depicts water lily flowers in varying stages of growth. The flowers in the foreground are blooming buds that have not reached full bloom, and are included for comparison with the main flower which is pink in color. Unlike the lotus plant which had round leaves, water lily leaves (also called "lily pads") have distinctive notches. Behind the flower is a red-eyed tree frog, one of the most colorful frogs. Rafflesia the Fourth , acrylic on canvas, 2021. 16" X 10" The  Rafflesia  is one of the largest flowers that have ever existed and is a native to Malaysia and Indonesia. This is the fourth  Rafflesia flower drawn by the artist. It is surrounded by mushrooms that are based on the mushrooms that the artist sees in his neighborhood. Ants are also present in the painting, including leafcutter ants which carry leaves ...

The Metal Mushroom , acrylic on canvas, 2019. 20 X 20 cm This painting is inspired from a morning walk where the artist finds a suspicious-looking "mushroom" stuck on a piece of wood. The "mushroom" turned out to be a large steel nail. The piece of wood where the strange "mushroom" is stuck in is surrounded by a cluster of purple mushrooms, also from the real-life scene.  

 FRUITY ABUNDANCE Fruits are defined as the fleshy parts of a plant which is the result of fertilization in flowers. When flowers are fertilized, the ovaries of "female" flowers ripen to form fruits which vary in color and taste, so that animals can consume the juicy fruits and disperse the seeds contained inside. Fruits are also popular among humans: they contain considerable amounts of natural sugars and vitamins, including vitamin C. The large variety of fruits are said to stimulate human senses in various ways based on preference. Fruity Abundance, acrylic on canvas, 2021. Set of 9, each piece 10" X 10"  Apples Green and Red, acrylic on canvas, 2021. 10" X 10" Apples originate from central Asia and have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe. There are more than 7500 breeds of apple, and they range in color from green to red. Different breeds of apple are grown for various uses including raw consumption and production of apple cider.  Ci...

  Orchids are a diverse family of flowers that are extremely popular as house plants. Around 6 to 11 per cent of all plants that produce seeds are orchids. This family is also well-known for the variety of shapes in its flowers.  Mirror Orchid, acrylic on art block, 2018 Red  Doritis , acrylic on art block, 2018 Purple  Doritis , acrylic on art block, 2018 Cattleya , acrylic on art block, 2018

 This art block collection showcases various types of unique and large plants. Rafflesia Rafflesia, acrylic on art block, 2017. 29.7 x 42 cm The Rafflesia is one of the largest flowers that have ever existed and is a native to Malaysia and Indonesia. With a unique pattern, texture and lifestyle, it is very iconic that it has also been pictured on the RM10 note of the current Malaysian Ringgit banknote series.  Lebanese Cedar Lebanese Cedar, acrylic on art block, 2017. 29.7 x 42 cm. The Lebanese cedar ( Cedrus libani ) is an evergreen conifer tree that can be found in the mountainous regions of the Mediterranean area in Turkey and the Middle East. This tree has a large significance in the history and religion of several Middle Eastern cultures, especially Lebanon where it is made a national symbol and featured on its national flag. Acacia Tree Acacia, acrylic on art block, 2017. 29.7 x 42 cm. The umbrella-thorn acacia ( Vachellia tortilis ) is a type of acacia tree that is...

The plants featured in this collection are called bird-of-paradise plants which are actually from the genus Strelitzia , which have been long associated with  Heliconia , or the lobster-claw plants. The bird-of-paradise plant is native to southern Africa and is the floral emblem of the US city of Los Angeles, California. Strelitzia plants got their nickname for the appearance of their flowers which resemble a certain species of bird-of-paradise. It is a very popular house plant worldwide. However, it does not have any natural insect pollinators as the only known pollinating agent for this plant is the sunbird. In countries where these birds do not live in, the plant requires hand pollination from humans. Strelitzia A, acrylic on art block, 2018 Strelitzia B, acrylic on art block, 2018 Strelitzia C, acrylic on art block, 2018 Strelitzia D, acrylic on art block, 2018

The hibiscus ( Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ) is a red-colored flower that is cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical regions, including southeast Asia. This particular species of hibiscus can also be called the Chinese hibiscus, China rose or rose mallow. Red Hibiscus, acrylic on art block, 2018 The red hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia, where it is called bunga raya in the Malay language. It is featured on the country's coat of arms and currency and was declared to be the national flower in 1960. The red color of the flower symbolizes the courage of the Malaysian people, and the five petals on the flower represents the five principles of the Rukun Negara . Yellow Hibiscus, acrylic on art block, 2018 Beside red, the hibiscus comes in a variety of colors ranging from white, yellow, orange and pink, with both single and double sets of petals. There are even rare varieties which contain two colors on one flower.  Bi-Colour Hibiscus, acrylic on art block, 2...