The artwork I have created is a recreation of the painting ‘Dancing Mutants’ by Hernando R. Ocampo (1911-1978) and it displays how in Singapore’s nature and staggering man-made buildings, intertwine in harmony. The number twenty-one is represented as the famous MRT and the colourful HDB flats of Singapore. In the background the pink HDB, the Art-Science Museum and the Marina Bay Sands Hotel are meant to represent the percentage symbol. The number in the painting represents how twenty-one percent of Singapore’s land area is forest despite the fact that it’s such a bustling city. This has earned Singapore the nickname ‘The Garden City’ because of its many beautiful species of flora and fauna. Many different features of Singapore’s nature can be seen in this painting such as the national flower, the orchid, and other native species such as the ‘Clitoria ternatea’ most commonly known as the blue pea flower. 

I chose the painting Dancing Mutants because I was fascinated how no matter how you look at it you see leaf-like humanoid figures in both the colours red and green. This made me think of the organic shapes you find in nature. The Philippino artist Hernando R . Ocampo who painted Dancing Mutants in 1965, wanted this painting to reflect his horrors of World War 2. The figures that can be seen in the painting were inspired by the things the artist saw around him every day. He said the main aspects that inspired him were: ‘the flora and fauna, the sunshine, the rain the flowers and the birds and the bees’. As I read this quote from the artist, I immediately thought that all these aspects are seen around Singapore and that I think we don’t realise and appreciate the true beauty of this proud countries’ nature. 

I chose to create a graphic-like design with dynamic shapes and bright colours for my artwork. I used mixed media to create different textures and colours. The mediums used include acrylic and gouache paint to lay down smooth base colours and splatters, oil based colour pencils and pastels to add shadows and texture as well as fine liner and paint pens to add fine details. The colours of the buildings have been selected to create contrast with the background. Many tints and shades have been mixed to create highlights and shadows. Many different colours in the painting compliment each other such as the salmon pink and baby blue on the HDB.