Art Beats Festival 24

A Study of A Lizard & In The Grass (Phisenukwat Chai)

Artwork Descriptions

A Study of A Lizard

A study of a lizard I stumbled upon when hiking at my local trail. The lizard, camouflaged among the fern leaves, would have gone unnoticed if it hadn’t tried to flee. Once a common sight, it has become increasingly unlikely to see these creatures at the hiking trail due to the rise in hikers and popularity of the trail.

In The Grass 

An oil pastel study of my cat’s first experience out in nature, her slow cautious step as she contemplates her natural fight or flight instincts.

Artist Statement

A Study of A Lizard

In this artwork, I tried to capture the spontaneity of my encounter with the lizard by using the impressionistic art style to convey the fleeting nature of the present moment. The image of this lizard comes from a hike I took at my local hiking trail where I’ve been visiting for well over a decade. While in it’s early days, it was very common to happen upon animals and creatures along the trail. The local wildlife at this trail has slowly diminished and migrated to other undisturbed parts of the jungle as the years went on. This encounter with the lizard happened last year when I hiked along a lesser traveled path, where the wildlife was still more active.

 

In The Grass 

Upon creating this artwork, I was made aware of the bizarre thought that a natural creature such as a cat has been domesticated to the point of being unfamiliar with nature and the natural world. It highlighted the interconnectivity of our human nature and the natural environment, our interference and the effects of our actions. The caution in my cat’s emotion was also a reminder of an animal’s strong instinct and awareness when it comes to their surroundings. Their fight or flight aptitude being a key aspect to their survival. 

Phisenukwat Chai

Designer and artist at the intersection of human and mother nature. Based in Kuala Lumpur, I am currently pursuing a degree in design communications at Sunway University. My artworks are often built with a heart for the impressionistic, somber, and introspective. Unbounded by mediums, I explore both digital and traditional art, working across various mediums such as oil pastels, gouache, and watercolour.