Lai Tong Cheong Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Lai Tong Cheong Art Value Price Guide

May. 19, 2024
Cheong Lai Tong (b. 1932 - 2022) Untitled, 1960
Est: RM35,000 - RM65,000
With the strange conjunction of celestial bodies like what look like the sun, a sickle moon and a conflagration in white shooting upwards, or is it a downward-spiral?, this must rank as surreal and highly un-CheongLaiTong. Which is as it probably was, being a 1960 imaginative lark before Lai Tong, the Wednesday Art Group, wunderkind unleashed a more structured array of abstraction based entirely and exclusively on Nature, with a wild phalanx of protruding shoots and foliage coupled with gestural calligraphic strokes, often imbued with luminous colours. That this is seen as an important transitional piece to Lai-tong's identifiable AbEx 1962-and-after bears its pedigree. It's longitudinal banner folding resembles a Chinese scroll painting. The year 1960 was one of three Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and it also marked the first Haj pilgrimage to Mecca for the nation. Pendulous shapes drip from the top with the base shrouded in tawny brown. A precocious star of the Wednesday Art Group in the 1960s, Cheong Lai Tong was on a roll, but he became more engrossed in his career as Rothmans Malaysia creative director and then regional creative director, from 1963 to 1995. He had a short stint as an USIS Exchange scholar at the Skowhegan School of Art in Maine in the United States (1960), and the LCC Central Art School in London (1961). In 1962, he won the Major Award in the Hongkong & Shanghai Bank mural competition and he also won 1st Prize in oil and acrylic in the prestigious Salon Malaysia in 1969 and 1979. After a brief comeback in 1981 at Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, he became active again in solos at GaleriWan (1991, 1995), and NN Gallery (1998).
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
May. 19, 2024
Cheong Lai Tong (b. 1932 - 2022) Untitled, 1981
Est: RM50,000 - RM80,000
Cheong Lai Tong's art oeuvre did evolve, contrary to what the inconsequential dilettante thought. From the 1960s raw pathos of marsh colours, his palette veered to contemporary idioms, forms and slightly brighter colours. He chose the then prevalent Abstract Expressionism to start his abstract stance in 1962, sluiced into a brighter palette in the 1970s reflecting his steadier economic life and that of the country. His early calligraphic matrix had also given way to some kind of lazy patterning and like this work, larger expanse of monochromes with some loose artefactal definitions, in a dance costume perhaps. This work was probably from his Lai Tong '81 solo exhibition at Universiti Malaya in 1981. But his works always retained a kind of luminous glow, for even in his onerous duties as a creative director (regional) and later, free to devote fulltime back into fine art. Though initially referencing his 1960s working formula, Lai Tong struck free into new terrain, and with this, at a glance looking so batik-ish. His self-identity can be gleaned from his fine draughtsmanship, which saw him winning many awards for design and marketing, when he was a creative director from 1963 to 1992 and regional from 1992 to 1995. And as always, you can imagine the distant strains of classical music in the air, which had set the mood when painting. Cheong Lai Tong is best remembered as one of the Magnificent 7 artist-heroes from the landmark abstract 1967 GRUP exhibition (It was reprised as REGRUP - 30 Years On in 1997). With Major Awards for Painting in the 1st (1969) and 2nd (1979) Salon Malaysia - no easy task in a national-level competition, he also achieved early fame as one of the outstanding artists of the Wednesday Art Group formed by Peter Harris. He had also won several mural competitions like at Istana Alam Shah in Klang (1958), Muzium Negara (1962) and Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank, KL (1962). He had short stints as USIS Exchange scholar at the Skowhegan School of Art in the United States (1960), followed by the LCC Central Art School in London (1961). His works were selected for major Malaysian exhibitions abroad like the Commonwealth Art Today in London (1962- 1963); Malaysian Art touring Europe (1965-1966); 1st and 4th Triennial of Contemporary World Art, New Delhi (1968 and 1978); the Sao Paulo Biennale (1969); and Man And His World in Montreal, Canada (1970). He had the distinction of having the opening of his third solo at Galeri 11, Kuala Lumpur, on May 13, 1969. "It opened at 3pm. At 7pm, the racial riot started," Cheong had recalled. The tragedy has left an indelible mark on the history of Malaysia.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Jun. 25, 2023
Cheong Lai-Tong (b. 1932 - 2022) Untitled, 1964
Est: RM20,000 - RM35,000
NaÃ¯ve it may be, but to Cheong Lai-tong, his impetus is to "paint a painting not seen before." One that's beautiful, of course. "Whatever I paint, I mainly want to show that I am different. I have no formula." Simple as that. Lai-tong painted mainly during the stillness of the night, with some soothing classical music for mood, and straight to the canvas. No sketches, no drawings. His inspiration was often the natural landscape, real or imagined, but with colour permutations, often primary, for the essence, and self-therapy too, after a hard day's at work. His abstract model was at its infancy: this work with a solid homogenous blob is more contained, form-wise, though the sides lapses into a panoply of 'radio-wave' graph â not his usual splintered and fragmented cut-out forms, swift calligraphic strokes or the patterning in-filling. Done in 1964, when he had his first solo â at Balai Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Lai-tong was at his prime in art, as a wunderkind of Peter Harris's Wednesday Art Group â before what he described as his "lost years" â of working in a senior position for Rothmans of Pall Mall, and then its regional director. Cheong Lai-tong will always be remembered for his outstanding stint at the Wednesday Art Group, together with Dzulkifli Buyong. Self-taught, he got a USIS Exchange scholarship at the Skowhegan School of Art in the United States in 1960, followed by a course at the LCC Central Art School in London (1961). His works were included in major Malaysian exhibitions abroad including the Commonwealth Art Today in London (1962-1963); Malaysian Art touring Europe (1965-1966); 1st Triennial of Contemporary World Art, New Delhi (1968); the Sao Paulo Biennale (1969); and Man And His World in Montreal, Canada (1970). His major triumph was the 1st Prize for Painting in the 1st Salon Malaysia (1969), and 2nd Prize in the 2nd Salon Malaysia (1979). He also won mural competitions like the Istana Alam Shah in Klang (1958) and Muzium Negara (1962). One notable group exhibition was the 1967 GRUP exhibition, which was reprised 30 years later, in 1997.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Mar. 19, 2023
Cheong Lai Tong (b. 1932 - 2022) Untitled, 1981
Est: RM45,000 - RM75,000
Cheong Lai Tong's art oeuvre did evolve, contrary to what the inconsequential dilettante thought. From the 1960s raw pathos of marsh colours, his palette veered to contemporary idioms, forms and slightly brighter colours. He chose the then prevalent Abstract Expressionism to start his abstract stance in 1962, sluiced into a brighter palette in the 1970s reflecting his steadier economic life and that of the country. His early calligraphic matrix had also given way to some kind of lazy patterning and like this work, larger expanse of monochromes with some loose artefactal definitions, in a dance costume perhaps. This work was probably from his Laitong '81 solo exhibition at Universiti Malaya in 1981. But his works always retained a kind of luminous glow, for even in his onerous duties as a creative director (regional) and later, free to devote fulltime back into fine art. Though initially referencing his 1960s working formula, Lai Tong struck free into new terrain, and with this, at a glance looking so batik-ish. His self-identity can be gleaned from his fine draughtsmanship, which saw him winning many awards for design and marketing, when he was a creative director from 1963 to 1992 and regional from 1992-1995. And as always, you can imagine the distant strains of classical music in the air, which had set the mood when painting. Cheong Lai Tong is best remembered as one of the Magnificent 7 artist-heroes from the landmark abstract 1967 GRUP exhibition (It was reprised as REGRUP - 30 Years On in 1997). With Major Awards for Painting in the 1st (1969) and 2nd (1979) Salon Malaysia - no easy task in a national-level competition, he also achieved early fame as one of the outstanding artists of the Wednesday Art Group formed by Peter Harris. He had also won several mural competitions like at Istana Alam Shah in Klang (1958), Muzium Negara (1962) and Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank, KL (1962). He had short stints as USIS Exchange scholar at the Skowhegan School of Art in the United States (1960), followed by the LCC Central Art School in London (1961). His works were selected for major Malaysian exhibitions abroad like the Commonwealth Art Today in London (1962-1963); Malaysian Art touring Europe (1965-1966); 1st and 4th Triennial of Contemporary World Art, New Delhi (1968 and 1978); the Sao Paulo Biennale (1969); and Man And His World in Montreal, Canada (1970). He had the distinction of having the opening of his third solo at Galeri 11, Kuala Lumpur, on May 13, 1969. "It opened at 3pm. At 7pm, the racial riot started," Cheong had recalled. The tragedy has left an indelible mark on the history of Malaysia.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Nov. 06, 2022
Cheong Laitong (b. China, 1932) Untitled, 2003
Est: RM23,000 - RM38,000
Rich colours interweaved with contrasting dark tones convey Laitong's interest in nature. The artist translates his experiences and memories of the poetic landscape by applying brushstrokes and textures to highlight the distinctive contours of the mountainous terrain. Immersed with golden light, the work carries a vast sense of space, portraying the scenery enveloped by mist and clouds. Cheong Laitong is regarded as one of the precocious stars of the Wednesday Art Group formed in 1952 by Peter Harris. But he prevailed with his bold gestural vigour more from the latter half of the 1960s, after stints as USIS Exchange scholar at the Skowhegan School of Art in Maine in the United States (1960), and the LCC Central Art School in London (1961). But his commitment lessened after working at Rothmans Malaysia first as creative director (1963-1992) and then regional creative director of its Asia-Pacific region (1992-1995). He started making a brief comeback in a 1981 solo at Universiti Malaya. It was another decade before he became active again - GaleriWan (1991 and 1995), and NN Gallery (1998). Early success was when he won 1st Prize in oil and acrylic in the Salon Malaysia in 1969 and 1979. In 1962, he won a major award in the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank mural competition in 1962. He was included in major Malaysian exhibitions abroad including the Commonwealth Art Today in London (1962-1963); Malaysian Art touring Europe (1965-1966); 1st Triennial of Contemporary World Art, New Delhi (1968); the Sao Paulo Biennale (1969); and Man And His World in Montreal, Canada (1970). He is best known for his iconic mosaic glass murals at Muzium Negara (1961).
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Mar. 27, 2022
Cheong Laitong (b. China, 1932) The Spirit Of Huangshan, 2003
Est: RM45,000 - RM70,000
The title of the work, The Spirit Of Huangshan, came from his 2003 solo at the NN Gallery, where he veered from his more calligraphic strokes to more disparate structural forms. It was only his eighth solo. This trend was already heralded in his Shan-Hur (Mountains and Rivers) exhibition in 1998. But it was a family visit to Huangshan in the winter of 2002 with wife Marina and children Ruyee and Yisan that gestated something more meditative and spiritually imposing with its serrated topography and contours. Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain, is sprawled in the southern Anhui province in Eastern China, with granite peaks at 1,864 metres high, amidst hot springs and winter snow. It is said to have been formed in the Mesozoic period some 100 million years ago, and was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1990. It was made more famous by paintings by the great Liu Haisu and eulogised in Chinese poetry, especially during the Tang Golden Age like that by Li Bai (701-762 AD) called Dawn Vista on Huangshan. Thirty six strange peaks, Immortals with black top knots, Morning sun strikes the tree tops, Here in this sky mountain world, Chinese people, raise your faces! Cheong Laitong is regarded as one of the precocious stars of the Wednesday Art Group formed in 1952 by Peter Harris. But he prevailed with his bold gestural vigour more from the latter half of the 1960s, after stints as USIS Exchange scholar at the Skowhegan School of Art in Maine in the United States (1960), and the LCC Central Art School in London (1961). But his commitment lessened after working at Rothmans Malaysia first as creative director (1963-1992) and then regional creative director of its Asia-Pacific region (1992-1995). He started making a brief comeback in a 1981 solo at Universiti Malaya. It was another decade before he became active again – GaleriWan (1991 and 1995), and NN Gallery (1998). Early success was when he won 1st Prize in oil and acrylic in the Salon Malaysia in 1969 and 1979. In 1962, he won a major award in the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank mural competition in 1962. He was included in major Malaysian exhibitions abroad including the Commonwealth Art Today in London (1962-1963); Malaysian Art touring Europe (1965-1966); 1st Triennial of Contemporary World Art, New Delhi (1968); the Sao Paulo Biennale (1969); and Man And His World in Montreal, Canada (1970). He is best known for his iconic mosaic glass murals at Muzium Negara (1961).
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Oct. 03, 2021
CHEONG LAI TONG : Untitled, 1981
Est: RM50,000 - RM75,000
Cheong Lai Tong was the artist responsible for the masterpiece that is the mural outside the National Museum of Kuala Lumpur, another at the Sultan of Selangor’s Palace and another at the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank in Kuala Lumpur. “The murals at the National Museum were designed in the post-Merdeka years and they take on a deeper significance as we celebrate 50 years of independence.” He is considered a living national treasure, with his artistic contributions to the country spanning for over six decades. His career as an artist began during Malaysia’s independence and his works are an undeniable asset to the country indeed. Cheong LaiTong once said that the paintings will tell an artist what colour to put, and as you keep painting, it will lead you. Most abstract artists would agree with him, that the paintings will direct an artist. If it doesn’t, it merely means one is not mature enough as an artist. Evidently, this piece creates such a painting – whose colours move and flow, in constant motion as if persuading the viewer to be one with it. The viewer will lose themselves in this piece, a painting of Nature herself, as they watch every movement and discover more mysteries.
KLAS Art Auction
Mar. 21, 2021
Cheong Lai Tong (b. China, 1932) Untitled, 1981
Est: RM75,000 - RM130,000
It’s not true that Cheong Lai Tong hit an artistic doldrum after award-winning performances when with the Wednesday Art Group, as this 1981 work amply shows. Significantly, he had a comeback solo in 1981, at Universiti Malaya. Admittedly, it was a time when he was kept busy first as creative director and then Asia-Pacific creative director with Rothmans. He could devote more time to his art again after retiring from Rothmans in 1995, after 33 years. He has chosen to paint in abstract after coming back from studies in the West in the early 1960s. And his subject is invariably, landscape, telescoping into memories of places he had been and seen, maybe not a particular place, but a composite, and in this case here, a mountainous vista, or something of higher elevation. To him, painting is a challenge about capturing the beautiful, or as he put it “a painting not seen before.” “Whatever I paint, I mainly want to show that I am different. I have no formula,” he always emphasised. Cheong Lai Tong made a huge impact in the 1960s. He was one of the stars of the Wednesday Art Group founded by Peter Harris. He won 1st Prize in oil and acrylic in the Salon Malaysia in 1969 and 1979. He won a major award in the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank mural competition in 1962. He was in major Malaysian exhibitions including the Commonwealth Art Today, London (1962-1963); Malaysian Art touring Europe (1965-1966); 1st Triennial of Contemporary World Art, New Delhi (1968); the Sao Paulo Biennale (1969); and Man And His World in Montreal, Canada (1970). He won a USIS Exchange scholarship of travels which included a study stint at the Skowhegan School of Art in Maine (1960) and the LCC Central Art School in London (1961). On his return, he was hired by Rothmans as creative director and in 1992-95, headed its Asia-Pacific region. He has had several solos which was capped by the Expression of 60 Years in 2014.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Dec. 13, 2020
CHEONG LAI TONG : Untitled, 2003
Est: RM22,000 - RM55,000
Cheong Lai Tong was best known for being the creative genius behind the 115-foot mural that majestically embellish the walls of the National Museum of Malaysia. He was born in 1932 in Guangzhou, China and moved to Malaya when he was a child with his mother and two sisters in 1938 to avoid the Japanese Occupation in China. Cheong then enrolled in a Chinese school before the Japanese occupation of Malaya, but lessons were not conducted during the occupation. He started learning the English language when he was 18 years old. Claiming his foray into art accidental, Cheong was born with the gift to draw yet wasn’t exposed to art until he received an American scholarship and subsequently also studied art in London.
KLAS Art Auction
Nov. 08, 2020
CHEONG LAI TONG : Abstract, 1969
Est: RM130,000 - RM170,000
Best known for being the creative genius behind the 115-foot mural that majestically embellish the walls of National Museum of Malaysia, Cheong Laitong survived World War and was part of the group who pioneered the Asian art scene. Born in 1932 in Guangzhou, China and moved to Malaya when he was a child with his mother and two sisters in 1938 to avoid the Japanese Occupation in China. His father was running a business in Kuala Lumpur back then. Cheong enrolled in a Chinese school before the Japanese occupation of Malaya, but lessons were not conducted during the occupation. He started learning the English language when he was 18 years old. Claiming his foray into art accidental, Cheong was born with the gift to draw yet wasn’t exposed to art until he received an American scholarship and subsequently also studied art in London.
KLAS Art Auction
Jun. 30, 2019
Cheong Laitong (b. 1932) Untitled, 1966
Est: RM22,000 - RM38,000
In 1966, the year Cheong Laitong painted this work, he was at his primest in art being the wunderkind of the Wednesday Art Group started by Peter Harris. He had stints as USIS Exchange scholar at the Skowhegan School of Art in the United States (1960), followed by a stint at the LCC Central Art School in London (1961). His stints abroad which included short studies in London (Central Art School) and visits to Japan and Egypt, was to shape a new abstract phase for Laitong, from 1968, playing with bold calligraphic strokes and tropical colour splatters. In 1966, he was already accorded his first solo and famously had a solo, his third, opening on May 13, 1969 at Chen Voon Fee’s Gallery 11. He had already developed his swift calligraphic strokes of genuflections and movements that had become his trademark style, what Redza Piyadasa dubbed the “transference of calligraphic techniques into the medium of oil painting” in Modern Artists of Malaysia (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 1983). Whether Chinese script or alluding to some nebulous anthromorphic forms or sheer line burst, the result is an eye-stacy. Cheong Laitong won the 1st Prize in oil and acrylic in the Salon Malaysia in 1969 and 1979. He won a major award in the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank mural competition in 1962. The 1960s proved his high points with involvement in major exhibitions like the Commonwealth Art Today in London (1962-1963); Malaysian Art touring Europe (1965-1966); 1st Triennial of Contemporary World Art, New Delhi (1968); the Sao Paulo Biennale (1969); and Man And His World in Montreal, Canada (1970). But his work as regional creative director for a cigarette company took him away from the canvas for long spells.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Nov. 12, 2017
CHEONG LAITONG (b. 1932) UNTITLED, 1969, Acrylic on board
Est: RM34,000 - RM60,000
The significance of this Untitled work by Cheong Laitong, one of the precocious stars of the Wednesday Art Group, was that it was shown in a solo exhibition held at architect-gallerist Chen Voon Fee’s Gallery 11, now defunct, in Kuala Lumpur. “The exhibition opened at Gallery 11 on May 13, 1969, at 3pm. At 7pm, the racial riot started,” recalled Cheong, who had two previous solos, in 1966 and 1968. A solo exhibition by Latiff Mohidin immediately followed after this group show. But unlike the internecine racial strife that followed, Cheong’s work of an imaginary landscape is one of phlegmatic calm with a centrifugal bloc of interest demarcated by two coloured spheres, the darker one in the bottom half. Streaky lines protruding from it signals a transgression of space. In Modern Artists of Malaysia (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 1983), Redza Piyadasa commented on the “transference of calligraphic techniques into the medium of oil painting” in a 1965 work, Life, Public and Private. Cheong Laitong emerged from the Wednesday Art Group founded by Peter Harris in 1952, and was made its president. He took part in the USIS Exchange scholarship at the Skowhegan School of Art in the United States in 1960, which was followed by a stint at the LCC Central Art School in London in 1961. But his work at Rothmans of Pall Mall (Malaysia) first as creative director (1963-1992) and then regional creative director of its Asia-Pacific region (1992-1995) saw a hiatus until his 1981 comeback solo at Universiti Malaya. It was another decade before he became active again – Galeri Wan (1991 and 1995), and NN Gallery (1998). His biggest achievements were his winning 1st Prize in oil and acrylic in the Salon Malaysia in 1969 and 1979. He won a major award in the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank mural competition in 1962. He was included in major Malaysian exhibitions abroad including the Commonwealth Art Today in London (1962-1963); Malaysian Art touring Europe (1965-1966); 1st Triennial of Contemporary World Art, New Delhi (1968); the Sao Paulo Biennale (1969); and Man And His World in Montreal, Canada (1970).
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Oct. 15, 2017
Cheong Lai Tong (B. China, 1932) Two Figures, 1959
Est: RM12,000 - RM18,000
Cheong Lai Tong Two Figures, 1959 Oil on canvas 41 x 28.5 cm
KLAS Art Auction
Oct. 05, 2015
CHEONG LAITONG | Abstract Landscape
Est: $80,000 - $150,000
Acrylic on board
Sotheby's
Jun. 16, 2015
CHEONG LAITONG (B. 1932) DATED 1959 41.5cm high, 28.5cm wide
Est: £800 - £1,200
CHEONG LAITONG (B. 1932) DATED 1959 oil on board, dated (upper left), signed LAI TONG in Pinyin, an abstract composition consisting of brown, red, purple, black and pink colour patches applied in an impasto fashion, thick lines outlining rectangular fields tilted in different angles and intersecting each other against a purple ground, framed 41.5cm high, 28.5cm wide
Lyon & Turnbull
Jul. 02, 2012
Cheong Laitong
Est: -
(Guangzhou 1932) - Untiteld - Signed and dated 62 l.r. - Oil on board, 61 x 248 cm. - N.B.: - Acquired in 1963.
AAG Auctioneers