This month, we feature artwork from the collection of Khai and Annie Lee.
By Adriana Nordin Manan
Thomas Powell, George the Dragon and Tiger, Oil on canvas, 111.5 x 86.5 cm. Image courtesy of Khai and Annie Lee.
The story of St. George, the patron saint of England is evoked clearly by Thomas Powell’s George the Dragon and Tiger. A knight in full regalia rides on the back of a tiger standing on a crouched dragon. The dragon is speared in the mouth by the knight, a figure we can treat as a stand-in for the revered saint.
Generally, renditions of the story of St. George speak about a fearsome dragon terrorising a village, forcing the villagers to feed the beast everything they have, to the point of having to offer their children. Passing through the village, St. George comes to the rescue and slays the dragon. In return, the residents embrace Christianity in large numbers.
What could be made of Powell’s depiction, if we are to take the painting as an attempt to engage with the story of St. George? As Powell is a British artist residing in Malaysia, maybe there is an attempt to localise an iconic image from his home country by dispensing with a horse and roping in the Malayan tiger. But it could also be a Bengal tiger, for example. Malaysia and India, two countries with something in common concerning England…
There’s no need to be coy. Could there be a place for commentary on colonialism here? If yes, what would the ravenous, dangerous dragon represent? Or maybe, the tiger should be our main focus, as it is the only part of the painting rendered in full colour, the rest being in shades of black, white, and grey.
People familiar with Penang might recall Powell for his “Chinese Zodiac” series of paintings, which place the faces of the twelve animals of the Zodiac on human bodies with characteristics typically associated with the animals. His murals also form part of Penang’s street art scene, gracing the walls of local spots such as Mugshot Café and Drippin’ Dragon Hostel.
Adriana Nordin Manan juggles eight professional roles: writer, translator, playwright, researcher, curator, dramaturg, educator and entrepreneur. She lives and works in Kuala Lumpur.