Next month will see the art exhibit of a talented Malaysian watercolor painter hosted at a Singaporean gallery. The show will be the first in a series organized by a Singapore art group ahead of the upcoming ASEAN Day, which is a celebration of arts from across the Southeastern Asian region.
Lok Kerk Hwang is a highly talented artist well-versed in what it takes to make watercolors leap to life on paper. His show, which is an exploration of light that illuminates everyday objects, is an extremely detailed examination of textures and patinas emanating from his subjects. A collection of the artist’s pieces that will be on display were made available to preview ahead of the show.
One of these paintings leaps to life in everything from the background to the subject itself, a plate of grapes picked fresh from the vine. The painter uses light to play with the globes of the bunch of grapes, which includes twists remnants of vines and vibrant leafs, still green from the recent picking. Each and every grape has been faithfully reproduced, rich in color and texture, from the brightest, whitest greens picked up by highlights from the light source, to brown-speckled grapes concealed in shadow. Even the grain in the wood table the grapes are presented on looks true to life, and the dark green brushed background is a perfect compliment.
Another watercolor painting takes on a technically challenging subject — water itself. The vertical painting plays with the reflection of a battered boat at dock. The boat itself only takes up perhaps the top third of the canvas, but its longer reflection in the harbor reveals more of the details of what the vessel actual looks like. However, ripples and light in the water obscure the viewer’s vantage point, concealing more details about the boat’s appearance. The water itself appears true to life, milky and beset by ripples and waves — and perhaps even raindrops flinging themselves down from the cloudy sky.
A third intimate portrait by the artist is of the back tire and seat of a bicycle. However, the bicycle isn’t new, or even recently purchased. It is a mode of transportation that has been used and used by whoever last loved it, then put out to pasture, so to speak. It is impossible to tell what the frame might’ve once been painted, as most of it has been eaten away with rust and exposure to the elements. The viewer can imagine what such roughness feels like under hand, as the rust is thoughtfully speckled and textured by the talented artist.
Watercolor is one of the most accessible forms of painting, and a great way to start your artistic journey if you’re thinking about signing up for an art class. Visit SGArtClass.com for more information about watercolor painting, including tips and techniques, and connect with teachers for additional instruction.
To read more about the upcoming show, go to http://sea.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1468426/datebook-lok-kerk-hwang-at-ion-art-gallery-singapore.