keng lye realistically renders aquatic life in 3D using paint and resin

keng lye realistically renders aquatic life in 3D using paint and resin
‘I’m a lover not a fighter’
all images courtesy of keng lye

when looking at keng lye‘s work, one can’t help but be reminded of riusuke fukahori’s intricately painted goldfish on resin. the singaporean artist realistically renders aquatic life – from koi fish to turtles to prawns – through layers of paint and resin, slowly building up each image in such a way that makes the works come alive. created from within ceramic bowls, drinking glasses and wooden vessels, the ‘alive without breath’ series are life-like, almost photographic executions of underwater creatures. while fukahori’s body of work is entirely two-dimensional, lye has told this is colossal, that he is able to create his three-dimensional effects by integrating small objects within the plastic liquid of a selection of his works.

an electric blue fighter fish is rendered into a drinking glass

keng lye creates uncanny painterly renderings of aquatic life

detail

‘live and let live’

‘let it flow’

‘watching fish swim’

‘thinking about you, bubba…’

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