Batik Naga

Pei Kwang

Digital artwork printed on fine art paper

Framed 420mm x 520mm

This pair of artwork stems from a series of works that explore the unique characteristics of South East Asian culture by combining Batik patterns with mythical animals. I have created this series of artwork with the intention of street murals and street banners in mind.

Batik is a traditional art form of textile design, typically used throughout South East Asia in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. It is characterised by intricate curves, flowing lines, bold outlines, repeating motifs, geometric shapes as well as vibrant colours. Patterns and designs used in Batik are often inspired by nature and mythology to tell a visual story that is rich in culture. For this series, I have chosen the Naga, a mythical creature unique to South East Asian culture. A Naga is a serpent or dragon-like creature with a long, winding body. Naga is believed to possess magical powers, wisdom and strength.

This series of work was later used as inspiration to create the Moon Bunnies and Batik Flowers artwork, which was used as lantern artwork for The Lanterns Pavilion showcase this year in Chinatown.