I’ve been painting Cityscapes for a number of years. There has been a constant refining to the techniques, palette and narrative – seeking to unify all disciplines in my creative endeavours; from harmony to mood. Emotion to objectivity. Composition to performance. Style and design to relevance. In essence, the works are meant to capture the monumental buildings and towers that are rife in any busy metropolitan city. They are a reminder that even in these overcrowded steel skylines, there is beauty and energy in everything.
Most details are done away in place of mood and the paintings are generally completed in a few sittings. The paintings are a way to extend the romantic appreciation of architecture. A nostalgic nod to the city, its space and the concept of decay. It’s not my intention to paint scenes with lots of details, but in a more reasonable way of painting the mood of the city and it’s nocturnal energy.
The uniqueness of any city lies in the remnants of its past, embedded in its architecture. Buildings and skyscrapers tower among us, some deserted and neglected. Old floor tiles from the 60’s, stairways leading nowhere, rickety plumbing and haphazard electrical wiring in back alleys that co-exist in the dark. This dichotomy between the new and the old fascinates me as a visual artist. These fissures attracts my attention.
‘KL 47’ (Jalan Tun HS Lee, KL), 48×72 inches, Oil on board, 2019, Sold.
The city is ruthless. Manic. Progressive. Yet, beautiful things do happen on a daily basis – It’s in the soup kitchens that send food to the less fortunate and homeless. It’s in the strength of a community that rallies around to help others in times of disaster (earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, fires, COVID etc.). It’s in the giving of money or alms to the needy when they never ask for it. It’s in the good samaritan who helps others. It’s in the generosity of corporations that appropriate yearly funds and resources to feed, clothe, buy school bags and books, toys and playthings, build schools and hostels for the needy and it happens when we send money back home to siblings, families and elderly parents – helping our communities grow.
These are not superhuman feats. They are basic, intrinsic, natural things for us as human beings. The new Cityscapes embody this story of humanity and resilience. Never forget your roots. We all live on this pale blue dot and have an enormous capacity to heal, to take care of, and to believe in the impossible.
NICHOLAS CHOONG 