Interview: Meet half-man, half-platypus and 100 percent artist David Chan

With his third solo exhibition, 'Hybrid Society -- Schizophrenia,' Singapore artist David Chan displays an irreverent yet poignant view of human behavior through metaphors of human-animal hybrids. The contemporary oil painter, sculptor and, most of all, animal lover, spoke recently with CNNGo about his creepily lifelike human-animal hybrids.

CNNGo: Animals in dinner jackets -- what's the message of your new exhibition?

David Chan: The exhibition explores the unpredictable nature of human behavior. Many a time, the people that we interact with may exhibit a totally different persona compared to their intrinsic personalities. To explore this concept, I have used animal representations in a series of paintings, sculptures and prints to illustrate the schizophrenic nature of human interactions.

CNNGo: Aside from eagles in casual wear, what inspires you?

Chan: I love a well-composed story -- anything from an engaging novel to an exciting movie, or even a well-conceived advertisement. Anything that presents a well-planned narrative is extremely attractive to me. Moreover, I am probably addicted to the smell of oil paints and turpentine.

CNNGo: Where is the weirdest place you've had an idea for a piece?

Chan: It does happen quite a fair bit in the loo early in the morning. It’s like you have been trying to solve a problem for some artwork for the whole week and suddenly, in that semi-dazed state, you go: 'Eureka!' Naturally, the next problem is to find something to write it on.

CNNGo: What is it about animal/human hybrids that intrigues you?

Chan: In 2002, I was greatly intrigued by the dilemmas and breakthroughs of genetic engineering. I would depict many of the related articles I had read into visual images. Ironically, I had rarely depicted any hybrids in those works -- I felt creating hybrids would have been too literal and negative to highlight the issues of genetic engineering. However, in 'Hybrid Society -- Schizophrenia,' it is precisely this diverse combination of human personalities that make it an ideal form of representation.

CNNGo: If you painted yourself as an animal/human hybrid, what would it look like?

Chan: The animal that I probably could relate to doesn’t even require any additional enhancements. This animal is no other than the platypus. Like the platypus, I always felt my place in society has never been confrontational -- I’m happy to go with the flow. Similar to that of the platypus, I enjoy a solitary life within the confines of where I live. If there is a lesson to be learned from the platypus, it has to be 'never judge a book by its cover.' Though passive and frail by nature, the platypus possesses a pair of poisonous spurs, a lethal deterrent to ward off unwelcome guests.

getting there

Hybrid Society -- Schizophrenia
Art Seasons gallery
Block 7, #02-12, Kaki Bukit Road 1, Eunos Technolink, Singapore
October 3 to November 3, 2009
Admission is free
www.artseasonsgallery.com