Every December, trend-setting and colour expert company Pantone reveals the colour of the year to come, influencing designers in every field, from fashion to multimedia, product and interior design. This year’s vibrant and “life-affirming” Living Coral brings warmth, optimism, and prosperity, thanks to its golden undertones.



 Embrace the Living Coral trend in 2019 with this selection of artworks:


Thomas Yeo, Red Earth, Gouache on rice paper 

Enjoy variations of pink and coral in this South-East Asian landscape, and lose yourself in the quiet surrealist natural environment, with wispy images of trees, in which nestles a slight hint of a rural house. Singaporean artist Thomas Yeo has been described “first and foremost [as] a colourist” by fellow artist and critic Chia Wai Hon, which makes him the perfect fit for this selection.


Ren Zhen Yu, Mahatma Gandhi, Oil on canvas

Make 2019 colourful with Ren Zhen Yu's portray of Mahatma Gandhi! The artist’s skilful technique involves the use of textures, thick layers of paint trails and splatters, spontaneous patterns and dynamic movement - all of which transform into the depiction of a realistic and pop figure. The artist unleashes a flurry of brushstrokes, giving Gandhi’s smile and his kind look even more depth.


Miertje Skidmore, Farsighted Foresight (Marine Sanctuary), Mixed medium on canvas

The paintings of Miertje Skidmore depict forces of nature, interacting and interweaving amongst themselves in a fusion of bold colours and intriguing forms. They are alluring and startling, drawing us in to observe every tiny detail, from fluid waves to aerated spaces. Her works are walking a thin line between abstraction and representation, and this piece illustrates 2019’s “Living Coral” both with its marine theme and its coral colours.


Minh Phuoc, Lotus Bloom 3, Oil on canvas

Bring peace and spirituality to your house in 2019 with Minh Phuoc’s monks and lotus flowers. Lotuses symbolize beauty, majesty, grace, fertility, wealth, richness, knowledge and serenity. These unique flowers emerge from the dirty and murky bottom of a pond, and yet remain untouched by all the dirt and mud of the environment in which they grow. Stand with the monks on a platform of lotuses, share their meditation and move into the spiritual world, into an expansive space of swathing coral.


Chumsri, Untitled, Oil on canvas

Laugh! Make it your motto this year, and remember it everyday with Chumsri’s painting. Let his strong strokes and bold texture work transport you with happiness. Because laughing and being happy are trends that will never go out of fashion!