Year of the Tiger

Residing in the leafy courtyard of The Mix at Chatswood Place, this mural shows the character of the tiger during the coming new year of 2022. In a book called 'Starting Point' on Hayao Miyazaki, I once read that the best way to capture expression is to animate (or, in this instance, illustrate and paint large) two characters doing the same thing. I wanted to create a character that reflects two contrasting sides: one side is calm while the other depicts a ferocious and wild animal. Although the two tiger faces are different in design, I want to capture a moment, vitality, and midway point between stillness and calamity.

In the four elements of fire, earth, metal and water, the 2022 tiger is a water tiger which is why the environment takes place in a water hole. Objects and subject matter included in the mural considered lucky to the tiger in 2022 are plum blossoms and green and blue. I used the colour palette of teal, sky blue and sand hues to reflect the leafy and friendly atmosphere of the Mix at Chatswood.