Joo Chiat Wall Art

I first saw this gem of a corner while re-exploring Joo Chiat a couple of years ago. Intrigued by the shophouse extension and loving building design, I wished I could have taken a walk-through. I couldn't, but that's alright, the mural by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic was such a delight to behold and more than made up for it.

This is what Zacharevic said on his site --  "Singapore's reputation as one of the most law obedient countries, the response to this work was actually one of the warmest I've experienced and aside from the ticket for my inconsiderate boom-lift parking, there was no charges or interruptions of any kind."

Well, I wouldn't expect anything less! And I sincerely hope that ticket was quashed...

Penang street art and painting workshop

This oil painting was started at the premises of Khoo Kongsi Temple in Penang, Malaysia, earlier this year. Whether due to the melting heat and humidity or the temple visitors who thronged around our group from time to time that afternoon, generous with their compliments, my concentration wasn't at its best and I had to re-work the perspectives and values back home.

By George...

During the five-day plein-air painting trip organised by My Art Space, we stayed in three houses. Two of them were rustic woody structures on the premises of a fruit farm resort in Balik Pulau. The quiet town is about 8km. away from capital George Town and its heritage buildings, a Unesco World Heritage Site. The farmstay (albeit with air-conditioning;) was such a thrill for the few of us city folks who were lucky enough to get the allotment. The rest of the group took a modern three-storey house.

We sketched or painted at scenic jetties, fishing villages, a hilltop site, and amidst padi fields. The meals were delicious of course, given that Penang (like Ipoh and Malacca) is well known for its tasty and authentic Malaysian food. Our daily routine was painting, feasting, painting, feasting.. with gallery visits thrown in.

What's missing in my photos are more pix of the street art of Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian artist (b.1987). Please DO click the links if you haven't yet seen his work, which first appeared in the 2012 George Town festival. Let me blame the heat haze again (or could it be the turps inhaled?!) but I didn't think of snapping more of his realistic wall murals.

房子: The fangzi I shared with two others.

Pavilion Inspiration: We had a rollicking good karaoke time under this second woody structure.
Upstairs is a standalone (non-air con) bedroom with mosquito netting.
This Malay tropical house is a great getaway for an individual,
or a couple, or best buddies.

 Connected: Wi-fi availabiliy at the homestay host's house a short walk away.

Kitchen Stuff: Just like the old stone grinders in my garden.

Laden: Fruits were bagged to deter bugs before they had a chance to ripen.

Out-House Ablutions: loved this experience!
Though I must admit it felt a little spooky when we had to go, one dark and stormy night.

Watering Hole: Edelweiss, in a heritage building, offers spirits and respite.

Brolly Coolies: A 'shady' cafe on a jetty.

Art Fest: Cannon / Armenian streets is where much of Penang's fav street art,
among other interesting artefacts, is found --- A MUST-go.

Canned Music: From Milo and such tin cans and containers.

Focus: Honk!honk! Flanked by padi fields, some of us forgot that a road is a road and that the occasional vehicle that came along had the right of way. Maybe it's the food, the lack thereof, that being close to dinnertime;)

High View: It was very nice to paint in crispy morning air, with a cup of fragrant Penang coffee at hand .

Last Day: After BBQ the night before, with so many of us and such a lot of washing up to do (real ceramic tableware, metal cutlery and drinking glasses -- no plastics and styrofoam!) we saw but one male helper/gardener who got everything straightened, washed and sun-dried in no time at all.

Inside-Out Art Gallery: Old Hin Bus Depot is a good example of the re-use of urban space.
I believe that's a Zacharevic wall.

Last Lunch: Chinese meal laid over ubiquitous pink plastic sheet at an open-air seafood restaurant. (Clockwise from left) Stir-fried local veggies, chilly crab, braised fish fillet, braised pork in dark sauce, steamed pomfret, crispy prawns.
For drinks, we had a fermented and potent-tasting coconut nutmeg concoction, Guinness stout, and beer.
And just water, and nutmeg coconut juice, and Chinese tea.

Plank Walk: Looks rickety, but this pier is safely solid, and such a joy to traipse on, barefoot.

Penang Cousins: Fun in the sun.

Indoors: Housing an art gallery, this is a typical heritage house courtyard that is open to sunlight.

Quick Snap...before the morning's brush work.

Trunk Call: I loitered on the pretty grounds of the museum shop that sells, among other things, slivers of Chinese blue-and-white necklace pendants "salvaged from shipwrecks". Each came with a serial number as 'proof of authenticity'.

'Arrf Friends: These homestay sweeties gave us three women in the house great comfort when we heard animal howls
 (or was it only the wind?) and (to us nervous city gals) other weird sounds one rainy night.
Was it my imagination again, or did they look sad and resigned at seeing folks leave just as the bonds are being forged?
 For sure, we humans felt sad saying goodbye.

More about Zacharevic and his art:
Art is Rubbish
WideWalls
Old Hin Bus Depot.
Tails from the Lion City

Oil painting of a tropical secret garden at first light, with stepping stones over water

First Blush

First Blush
Oil on canvas
76x102 cm / 30x40 in
Sold 

Painted in 2009 and inspired by the contemplative courtyards in the tropical resorts that I have experienced. Also the 'secret gardens' within lovely Singapore homes that I visited while writing a fortnightly feature on design & architecture.

'Secret' -- and very lovely -- because these open spaces are protected from public view by high walls or thick foliage, or nestled within the house itself as an indoor-outdoor space.  There would invariably be water features, big or small, that add to the calming atmosphere.

I used a hot hue to evoke evening anticipatory passion. Or early morning delights;) ?

The courtyard view now resides with a young couple, drawn to its resemblance to one of their favourite spots in Fort Canning Park that they had stumbled upon.

May they continue to delight in joint discoveries and shared passions.