A Day in the Life: Khairulddin Wahab

Observing and researching surrounding landscapes

A Day in the Life is a series by A&M where we invite artists to share a day in their life through images accompanied by brief descriptions.

Khairulddin Wahab.

Khairulddin Wahab (born in 1990) is an artist who lives and works in Singapore. Grounded in research, his artworks ruminate on the impact of history and politics on the natural environment and vice versa,  the power play that existed between the coloniser and the colonised, and the complex dynamics that remain to this day. In this story, he shared one of his recent artwork and creative process.

Khairulddin Wahab, Near Light, 2023. Image courtesy of the artist.

Near Light portrays two disembodied figures amidst a surreal tropical landscape, which I composed to symbolise the spiritual and supernatural dimensions that pervades the tropical imaginary of natives in the region. Although colonial sciences and land policies were a way to disenchant and rationalise the environment to turn away from such beliefs, I thought about how this aspect of the tropics manifests itself in folklore, culture and micro-histories of the environment.

Vegetation encountered during a morning jog. Image courtesy of Khairulddin Wahab.

My routine typically involves starting the day with a jog, followed by a visit to the studio. During my run, I often come across intriguing plant and animal life that piques my curiosity. I took a picture of this plant because I found its radiating leaves and peculiar stem position to be visually compelling. I draw inspiration from my surroundings and integrate these elements into my artworks.

A few works in progress at the studio. Image courtesy of Khairulddin Wahab.

It is my usual practice to concurrently start and work on multiple paintings. I will switch between different works depending on their individual progress.

Close up of a work in progress. Image courtesy of Khairulddin Wahab.

I frequently produce small colour studies using leftover canvas pieces. I engage in this practice to experiment with color schemes or to explore brushwork techniques prior to applying them on the final artwork.

Readings and artistic references. Image courtesy of Khairulddin Wahab.

Research is a big part of my process. Reading or looking at art helps to clarify my own thoughts and ideas for my practice. Recently, I have been looking at the paintings of Gustav Klimt and the organic “flow” in his composition. On the conceptual front I am interested in Max Weber’s concept of 'enchantment' or 'disenchantment' and how this manifests as a historical process in Southeast Asia, and its legacy on the environment.

Follow Khairulddin on Instagram here.