Wild Singapore, her latest design in 90cm silk.
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"Here is the original painting for my new
#silk #carre design for Hermes A/W 2020 entitled
#WildSingapore This is a design that celebrates the wondrous biodiversity of Singapore, exploring its two main habitats: rainforest (left side of the composition and mangrove forest (right side of the composition). I have tried to include species from as many animal and plant groups as I could in the design. The setting is at night because many creatures in Singapore are nocturnal species.
There are green cloudy forms on the horizon that could be more jungle, or could suggest clouds, reminding us that Singapore is an island, surrounded by sea, but the mainland is not far at all. The rainforest habitat is rich with native species, and the mangrove habitat has many visitor species, as well as resident species. Singapore is on the great Eastern migration path, for birds migrating from northern Asia down towards Australia. Singapore is an important place for these birds to feed and rest on their huge journey. The
#SungeiBuloh wetland reserve is a vital habitat for these birds. Singapore’s urban spaces are filled with greenery and parks such as the beautiful Botanic Gardens, to encourage wildlife, and it is important to plant native species in urban areas to help native wildlife and provide ‘green corridors’ through the city.
The huge strangler fig tree in the centre of the design, hosting a wealth of epiphytic plants such as climbers, ferns, palms and orchids, has the shape of a lion hidden in its foliage. The lion is the national symbol of Singapore (Lion City), not because the jungle used be the home of lions, but because a Malayan prince was shipwrecked on the island, and claimed he saw a lion. This is not possible, no native species of lion has ever lived on a Singapore, but tigers once roamed freely until the last one was shot in 1930. Perhaps he saw a tiger, and thought it was a lion. He decided to found a city there and named it Singapore, ‘Lion City’. The benevolent spirit of the forest is lion-formed, a very human construct, that cares for the plants and animals. This design reminds us of nature’s beauty, and complexity, it is a delicate balance of species." (from Alice Shirley's Instagram)