Known for his fantastical realistic artworks in ink, Singaporean-born Koh Liang Jiang was trained at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and graduated with a Diploma in Western Painting in 2014. Koh’s body of works reflects the rigorous draughtsman training at the Academy, executed with a contemporary interpretation of the traditional medium. Influenced by legends, stories from ancient mythology and modern science fiction, Koh’s focus resides in the fantasy realm, albeit with varying connections to real life. His preferred choice of medium is papyrus, which allows him to render intricate and complex ink lines.
In this drawing, Koh depicts his imaginary dreamscape of the Maw Cave and a lone figure fishing nearby by the cave. In this work, the surrounding wilderness engulfs the figure, who appears to seek solitude and absorb the tranquillity of the natural surroundings. The entrance of the Maw Cave on the left seemingly invites the figure to go further, perhaps foreshadowing an impending adventure into the unknown.
