Illustrating life under the sea: First solo exhibition for young local graphic designer
By Home & Decor Team -
Her illustrations of marine life became talk of town when they were featured in the window displays of luxury French label Hermes’ outlet at Takashimaya Department Store last year. Recently, the homegrown graphic designer also held her first solo exhibition, based on depictions of shellfish, at K+ Gallery at Scotts Square titled ‘Marine Fantastic: An Illustrated Introduction to Crustaceans’. Wu Yanrong talks about the things that captivate her and how she fits into the local art scene.
What’s with this fascination with sea creatures, and crustaceans specifically?
I’ve always loved the sea, but only became interested in sea animals after I started to learn diving during my polytechnic days. I started illustrating sea creatures while I was working on a travel magazine in university, and I wanted a particular story on fishes to be illustrated.
For me, the peculiar shapes of the various crustaceans make them a more interesting subject to illustrate than fish. Their shapes also make them easier to draw in a way, because having a distinctive silhouette makes it easier to transfer the image in my mind onto paper, which helps since I don’t sketch before I paint.
Who are some people who have inspired you as an illustrator?
One of them would be American artist Charley Hopper – not so much his aesthetic, but more of the way he perceives everyday things. He said in interviews that when he looks at a bird, he doesn’t look at the details but its outline and shape, a way of seeing that I have come to adopt as well.
I also like to study the works of French and Japanese animators, art directors and storyboard artists, such as Masaaki Yuasa and Yuichi Yokohama. Their works are very experimental and adventurous, especially in their use of colour and methods of composition. It is therefore a dream of mine to art direct an animation film in the future.
Do you think your art is in some way uniquely Singaporean?
Initially my answer was no because, first and foremost, we haven’t developed a very strong identity in art that is instantly recognisable as undeniably or inimitably Singaporean.
But then I thought my brush strokes might give away some indication of who I am because I have learned it from Chinese painting, where every stroke means something, whilst at the same time, my medium (or paint) is western. This reflects very much our Singaporean condition where we are a mix of Asian, in terms of ethnic identity, and western, in terms of our influences.