The Art of Khik Weng Keat

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...

  Vibrant Migration , acrylic on canvas, 2024. 24" X 16.5" The artist showcases the five species of sea turtle found in Malaysian waters and places them in a scene inspired by the  sea turtle migration scene from the film, Finding Nemo . The five species are the leatherback ( Penyu Belimbing ); green sea ( Penyu Agar ); hawksbill ( Penyu Karah ); loggerhead ( Penyu Tempayan ); and olive ridley ( Penyu Lipas ). The various species of sea turtles and their young come together follow the current in a migration route, implying their journeys being shaped by similar forces toward a common goal. The "vibrance" refers to the colors of the turtles and the lively activity of the baby turtles.

Know Your Position , acrylic on canvas, 2023. 30" X 24" The painting depicts a food web of the ocean, and every creature in this painting has a role to play in this complex food web based on their trophic level, which is their position in the food web. Producers Plankton are aquatic organisms that are unable to swim effectively against currents. There are two types: zooplankton and phytoplankton. Phytoplankton or plant plankton serve as the chief producer in the oceans. They are mostly green due to having chloroplasts, which enables them to carry out photosynthesis. They drift in the ocean's surface to take in sunlight. Low-level consumers Zooplankton or animal plankton comprise of various types of small animals such as fish fry, small invertebrates and their larvae. They usually feed on phytoplankton, which are generally smaller. Corals get their food from algae living in their tissues or by capturing and digesting prey, especially plankton. Most reef-building corals hav...

  Testudine Tranquility , acrylic on canvas, 2022. 24" X 30" There are about 250 species of turtles and tortoises, which are distributed in most warm parts of the world. They are easily recognized by the hard, rounded shell that protects the main part of its body. Land tortoises thrive in a wide range of habitats including deserts, woodlands and mountains. Pond turtles and terrapins live mostly in rivers and ponds, where they become strong swimmers. The Galapagos tortoise ( Chelonoidis niger ) is the largest reptile in the Galapagos islands, a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean close to the country of Ecuador in South America. The tortoises living on each of the islands vary in shell shape which suit their lifestyles on their respective islands. The dome-shelled variety (pictured) is more well-equipped for the islands with more even ground, while the saddle-backed variety had a flatter shell which enables them to survive in the dry lowlands. The dome-shelled tortoises gene...

  Marine Mobile Homes , acrylic on canvas, 2022. 18" X 24" Several marine animals have hard shells as a means of protection. These shells are usually made of calcium carbonate, which is the same material that makes up the bones of most animals. The shells were once thought to be the "mobile homes" of these animals where they could hide inside, but these shells are actually more than what they seem. A sea turtle's shell is made of bone and is covered with a hard layer of keratin, which is a material which also makes up the hair and fingernails of mammals. The turtle shell is made of two pieces, the top layer which is called the carapace, and the bottom part is called a plastron. They are fused on each side by a structure called a bridge. The carapace is made of smaller individual pieces called scutes, which are similar to scales. Hitching a ride on the turtle's back in the painting is a periwinkle snail, which is feeding on parasites on the turtle's shell...

  Scaly Success Story , acrylic on canvas, 2021. 24" X 18" Reptiles are animals which have dry, scaly skin and lay their eggs on dry land. They were considered as one of the animal kingdom's greatest success stories as they had evolved to adapt to extreme climates and conditions. There are about 6,560 species of reptile, which are divided into main groups including crocodilians, lizards, snakes and chelonians (turtles and tortoises). Saltwater Crocodile The saltwater crocodile ( Crocodylus porosus ) is the largest crocodilian, measuring up to 6 meters or more in length. A powerful ambush predator, its jaws had the strongest bite of any living animal. Unlike most crocodiles, the saltwater crocodile also inhabits brackish and salt water habitats like mangrove swamps, river deltas and even open beaches. It can be found from eastern India to Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Reticulated Python The reticulated python ( Malayopython reticulatus ) is a massive snake commonl...

COLORS OF THE DEEP The depths of the oceans are full of color: it is filled with various colorful creatures and brightly-colored environments. Some of these colorful creatures are unique and have special features which distinguish themselves from each other and even help them in their fight for survival in such a competitive world.  Colors of the Deep Vol. 2 , acrylic on canvas, 2021. Set of 9, each piece 8" X 8"  Seahorses Hippocamp Trio, acrylic on canvas, 2021. There are 46 known species of seahorse, and three species are featured in this painting: the Sindonis seahorse ( Hippocampus sindonis , left), the pot-belly seahorse ( Hippocampus abdominalis , foreground) and the pygmy seahorse ( Hippocampus bargibanti , top right). The pot-belly seahorse is one of the biggest members of the seahorse family, while the pygmy seahorse is the smallest. The Sindonis seahorse, known for its bright red coloration, is native to waters off Japan. The pygmy seahorse comes in a variety of co...

WEIRD BUT ENCHANTING Some animals look unusual among their relatives for their features. However, these weird features are actually evolutionary adaptations which help these animals to survive in their environment, either to predators, climate change or lifestyle.  Weird but Enchanting , acrylic on canvas, 2020. Set of 9, each piece 8" X 8"  Axolotl Youthful Trio, acrylic on canvas, 2020 The axolotl ( Ambystoma mexicanum ) is a species of salamander which is also called the "walking fish". This amphibian reaches maturity without changing any part of its body, including its gills, and also has the ability to grow back lost body parts. Axolotls come in a variety of colors; the normal coloration is actually brown with gold speckles (on the lower right of the painting). The popular light pink coloration (shown at the top center) is actually caused by a mutation. Colugo Malayan Colugo, acrylic on canvas, 2020 The Malayan colugo ( Galeopterus variegatus ) belongs to a uni...

MAJESTIC MENAGERIE [SOLD] A menagerie can be defined as a collection of exotic and unique animals, and the term also refers to a precursor to modern zoos which also showcases exotic animals. In the 18th century, the term menagerie is used for animal collections by aristocrats or royals who seek to display their power and wealth because exotic animals are quite difficult to acquire and harder to maintain. The natural world, however, had a vast collection of diverse life which can be considered unique in their own ways. Elephant Asian Elephant, acrylic on canvas, 2020 The Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus ) ranges throughout southern and southeast Asia from India to Indonesia. Elephants are worshipped by cultures of these regions, commonly as a symbol of strength and wisdom. The elephant is also a national symbol in Thailand. Giraffe Giraffe, acrylic on canvas, 2020 The giraffe is the world’s tallest land mammal. Giraffes have prominent horn-like structures called ossicones on their heads...