Art of the week: Spring Returns and The Winter Snow Melts by Jonathan Ching

You’ve changed your style! You now incorporate 3-D objects into your works.
Yes, it's changed quite a bit since I started. It's a bit like doing collage, except that I stick 3-D objects onto the painting, maybe just to change the context of the painting or the object.

Do you make them with your bare hands?
I have them made, sometimes by a metalsmith. It's poured metal – bronze, aluminum or iron. Art is influenced by the environment, and I live in an area where there are blacksmiths and foundries, so they've found their way in my work.

Does this reference another artist's work?
Not that I know of, although like collage, the image of the atrium is an existing image which I just edited. Its an image of an old Detroit atrium which I appropriated and used as a background to the tree. Maybe I was subconsciously influenced by the imagery of Jack and the Beanstalk.

What’s the story behind 'Spring Returns and The Winter Snow Melts'?
This painting is sort of [TV series] Life After People-meets-urban decay. I saw a series of urban decay images of Detroit City. I thought they were beautiful in a bleak and haunting way, and i wanted to paint them. But I also wanted it to be hopeful.

What’s the message?
I think the title explains the painting in one way. Life renews itself and offers second chances.

See 'Spring Returns and The Winter Snow Melts' in 'And They Say the Stars are Worlds' (12-25 Oct) at Richard Koh Fine Art.