Page 37 - Raffles09_March2022

− EMOTION −
In the spirit of these environmental records from the past and present, I set out to record the rich biodiversity of Singapore in my own signature style by immersing myself in the city’s green spaces, from Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, in the north-western area of Kranji to MacRitchie Reservoir, located in the centre. I also visited Raffles Singapore, to explore its gardens, see the iconic traveller’s palm at its entrance and enjoy its quiet and tranquil setting. For a city location, it’s a beautiful place to catch your breath. These sites not only provided me with the visual inspiration for my artwork, but the space to wonder at a slower pace – and be truly present in the moment. It is within this kind of mindset, that you discover things that you don’t necessarily expect to see: creatures you never knew existed and hidden treasures that feel like your own.
Experiencing what is around you on location is one level of looking. Then, there’s a period of time after where things just settle and I begin to recall the elements I want to expand on. Sketching is an important part of my process for thinking through what I have seen and filtering down the visual aspects I am most drawn to, for example, the pattern created by a tree. I use my initial sketch to find out more about the colour palette. Henri Matisse left an early impression on me as a young artist, not just because of his techniques such as paper-cutting, but also his philosophy. He spoke about observing colour not just through individual hues but how they all work together: a quite frankly poetic perspective that has been influential on my own work. When I collage, it is really a process of trial and error, there are usually many details that I want to explore. As I result, I try various combinations and then figure out the final arrangement along the way. It can take quite some time to just move things around, but I like the freedom that comes with this method, compared to starting out with a fixed composition.