Originally commissioned by the Mandarin Singapore, Now privately owned. Riders of the World is a visual splendour. An 18th century Indonesian, 13th-century Japanese samurai of the Kamakura period, and Chinese Mandarin of the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644AD) together with the 19th century Moor and early 20th century Russian Cossack, leap from the wall painting as do their spirited mounts. His magnificent horses are captured in luminous colours and dramatic poses – muscles taut, snorting, prancing, tearing and galloping.

The spectacular mural depicts the meeting of east and west, of north and south, and covers seven centuries of history and culture.

Against a background of rich earth browns and tawny yellows, he has added exciting and vibrant tinges of red and other bright shades. In his striking Riders of the World, the celebrated artist again demonstrated his genius for combining the mythology, history and art techniques of the East with the technology of the West, resulting in a work of art that is charged with a certain primitive passion while retaining a dream-like harmony of colour and surface texture.

Gerard’s insatiable curiosity and wanderlust, coupled with his burning desire to re-live Marco Polo’s 13th-century odyssey, brought him and his companions into close contact with proud and independent people – people who have never been conquered. For this painting, he draws from his exciting experiences with the various wandering tribes inhabiting Central Asia.