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Bak Koi Tay Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1939 - d. 2005

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  • TAY BAK KOI | Watching Buffaloes
    Jan. 19, 2025

    TAY BAK KOI | Watching Buffaloes

    Est: S$28,000 - S$40,000

    121 x 120 cm oil on canvas signed lower right 鄭木奎《观看水牛》1990年代作 油彩 画布 款识：Bak Koi（右下）

    33 Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI : Resting
    Jan. 19, 2025

    TAY BAK KOI : Resting

    Est: RM3,000 - RM7,000

    Resting by Singaporean artist Tay Bak Koi, is a serene and contemplative depiction of rural life. The artwork features two figures, seated under the shade of trees, surrounded by the tranquillity of the surrounding lush greenery. Tay’s signature style—characterized by simplified forms and muted tones—creates a peaceful, idyllic atmosphere. Through soft brushstrokes and delicate colour contrasts, this piece captures a quiet, reflective moment, evoking a deep sense of harmony with nature.

    KLAS Art Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI : Fishing
    Jan. 19, 2025

    TAY BAK KOI : Fishing

    Est: RM3,000 - RM7,000

    The lines between fantasy and reality are often blurred when it comes to works done by Tay Bak Koi. He incorporates that idyllic and dream-like quality into his paintings and made it his signature. In fact, he is known for merging fantasy with realism. For instance, his realistic sceneries and landscapes are often injected with fairytale-like interjections. This emphasises the hybridisation of reality and perception, as seen in this piece. As indicated by its title, ‘Fishing’ is a serene work depicting several fishermen standing waist-deep in water with their rods and straw hats.

    KLAS Art Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI : Fishing Village
    Jan. 19, 2025

    TAY BAK KOI : Fishing Village

    Est: RM3,000 - RM7,000

    Tay’s paintings are adorned with neutral colours, complemented by complexity and richness both in texture and form, which far surpass those of his earlier paintings. His works embody a dreamlike quality, often blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, emitting a sense of tranquillity, and even timelessness. This particular artwork is something one dreams of, depicting a small fishing village set among nature, with houses on stilts and three fishing rafts docked at the bank.

    KLAS Art Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI : Farmers at Work, 1982
    Jan. 19, 2025

    TAY BAK KOI : Farmers at Work, 1982

    Est: RM8,000 - RM15,000

    A second generation Singaporean artist, Tay Bak Koi is well known for his portrayals of fishing and farming villages as portrayed in this artwork, besides kampong scenes and buffalo. While his medium of choice was predominantly oil, watercolour was another favoured medium of his. In his distinctive manner, he combines a blend of both realism and fantasy to create truly unique works of art, as seen in this painting. Although he emphasises on the observable reality, he engages his piece and the audience in a process of exclusion and distortion, in order to reduce complex forms to their basic shapes. As a result, there is a keen appreciation and presentation of the two-dimensional aspects of his pieces. Tay Bak Koi specialised in oil and watercolour and his works have been exhibited extensively in Singapore and various other countries, including Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, Germany and the United States. Tay’s talent for drawing was discovered by his father’s friend, who subsequently enrolled him in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957. His teacher, the late Cheong Soo Pieng, taught him to appreciate existing works of art in new ways and to challenge conventional art forms.

    KLAS Art Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI | By the River
    Dec. 17, 2024

    TAY BAK KOI | By the River

    Est: S$1,700 - S$2,500

    Mixed media on paper: 29 x 29 cm Signed, lower right: Bak Koi

    Global Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI | Resting
    Dec. 17, 2024

    TAY BAK KOI | Resting

    Est: S$1,700 - S$2,500

    Mixed media on paper: 28 x 25.5 cm Signed, middle right: Bak Koi

    Global Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI (Singapore 1939-2003), Farmers Under Red Sun, W/Clr & Gouache, 60x60cm
    Dec. 08, 2024

    TAY BAK KOI (Singapore 1939-2003), Farmers Under Red Sun, W/Clr & Gouache, 60x60cm

    Est: $1,500 - $2,500

    TAY BAK KOI (Singapore 1939-2003) Farmers Under Red Sun Signed centre left. W/Clr & Gouache 60x60cm

    Davidson Auctions
  • TAY BAK KOI (SINGAPOREAN, 1939-2003)
    Nov. 08, 2024

    TAY BAK KOI (SINGAPOREAN, 1939-2003)

    Est: £800 - £1,200

    TAY BAK KOI (SINGAPOREAN, 1939-2003) DATED 1964 鄭木奎 水上人家圖 紙本設色 鏡框ink and colour on paper, signed ‘64 Bak Koi’ in the right upper centre, framed  94cm x 42.4cm Private collection, Edinburgh; Inherited from current owner's parents who acquired in Singapore during the 1950s and 1960s. 私人收藏，愛丁堡；現任藏家父母於1950至60年代入藏自新加坡，後家族遞藏。

    Lyon & Turnbull
  • TAY BAK KOI : Village in the Hills, 1980’s
    Oct. 27, 2024

    TAY BAK KOI : Village in the Hills, 1980’s

    Est: RM9,000 - RM15,000

    Tay Bak Koi’s Village in the Hills from the 1980s is a serene landscape that captures the tranquility of rural life in Southeast Asia. The painting, typical of Tay’s signature style, blends realism with stylized elements. Rolling hills, delicately textured, form a harmonious backdrop to clustered huts, depicted with simplistic yet evocative lines. The soft, muted color palette—gentle earth tones and pastel hues—enhances the dreamlike atmosphere. Tay’s unique interpretation of rural life evokes both nostalgia and calm, offering viewers a peaceful retreat into an idealized countryside that reflects the artist’s deep connection to nature and tradition.

    KLAS Art Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI : Two Sister’s By The River, 1980’s
    Oct. 27, 2024

    TAY BAK KOI : Two Sister’s By The River, 1980’s

    Est: RM3,500 - RM5,500

    Two Sisters by the River by Singaporean artist Tay Bak Koi, painted in the 1980s, is a serene and contemplative depiction of rural life. The artwork features two figures, likely sisters, seated by a river, surrounded by lush greenery and tranquil waters. Tay’s signature style—characterized by simplified forms and muted tones—creates a peaceful, idyllic atmosphere. Through soft brushstrokes and delicate color contrasts, this piece captures a quiet, reflective moment, evoking a deep sense of harmony with nature.

    KLAS Art Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI | Returning (Kembali)
    Jul. 27, 2024

    TAY BAK KOI | Returning (Kembali)

    Est: S$5,800 - S$6,800

    Mixed media on paper: 78 x 44 cm Signed, lower right: Bak Koi

    Global Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI | Bird / Fishing
    Jun. 30, 2024

    TAY BAK KOI | Bird / Fishing

    Est: S$6,000 - S$8,000

    60 x 35 cm ; 77 x 51.2 cm (with frame) | 44 x 60 cm ; 61.5 x 77 cm (with frame) mixed media on paper signed lower right / signed lower left Provenance: Private collection, Singapore 鄭木奎《飞鸟/渔》 综合媒材 纸本 款识：Bak Koi（右下）/ Bak Koi（左下） 来源：新加坡私人收藏

    33 Auction
  • Tay Bak Koi (b. 1939 - 2005) Buffaloes Song, 2003
    May. 19, 2024

    Tay Bak Koi (b. 1939 - 2005) Buffaloes Song, 2003

    Est: RM45,000 - RM75,000

    Tay Bak Koi was best known for his paintings of buffaloes that are uniquely shaped like Minangkabau roofs. The topography is punctuated by the curved horns like little sickels. The sharp-angled hump forms with thinly etched outlines, subtle shading, and earthy colours in warm hues enhance the beauty of this piece. Chia Wai Hon wrote on his buffaloes: "... tightly stylised creature with a massive body supported on two pairs of inverted V-shaped legs, a small head and a sharp hump..." Tay Bak Koi, who studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957-1960, worked in the Nanyang Style. The son of a seafood wholesaler, he had his first solo of 40 works at the Singapore National Library in 1964. In October 1996, The Art Gallery Penang hosted a solo for him, In Harmony With Nature.

    Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
  • Bak Koi Tay (1939-2005) 'Fishing village', signed and dated '67 lower left, mixed media. H. 90 cm. W. 44 cm.
    May. 15, 2024

    Bak Koi Tay (1939-2005) 'Fishing village', signed and dated '67 lower left, mixed media. H. 90 cm. W. 44 cm.

    Est: €800 - €1,200

    Bak Koi Tay (1939-2005) 'Fishing village', signed and dated '67 lower left, mixed media. H. 90 cm. W. 44 cm.

    Zeeuws Veilinghuis
  • TAY BAK KOI | Fishing
    Mar. 23, 2024

    TAY BAK KOI | Fishing

    Est: S$4,000 - S$6,000

    Watercolour on paper: 69 x 69 cm Signed, lower left: Bak Koi

    Global Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI | 7 Buffaloes In The Field
    Jan. 20, 2024

    TAY BAK KOI | 7 Buffaloes In The Field

    Est: S$30,000 - S$60,000

    170 x 122 cm ; 208 x 157 cm (with frame) oil on canvas signed and dated 98 lower left 鄭木奎《田野里的七只水牛》1998年作 油彩 画布 款识：Bak Koi 98（左下）

    33 Auction
  • Bak Koi, Tay: Zwei Frauen am Fluss
    Dec. 02, 2023

    Bak Koi, Tay: Zwei Frauen am Fluss

    Est: €600 - €800

    Zwei Frauen am Fluss -- Aquarell auf Velin, auf Unterlagekarton kaschiert. -- 30,5 x 30,4 cm. -- Links mittig mit Pinsel in Dunkelblau signiert "Bak Koi" (ligiert). -- -- Der südostasische Künstler ist bekannt für seine Darstellungen von Fischerdörfern, Kampongszenen und Büffeln. Seine Arbeiten waren vertreten in zahlreichen Ausstellungen u.a. in Singapur, Malaysia, Hongkong, Japan, Australien, den USA und in Deutschland. Stilistisch changieren seine Bildmotive zwischen Realismus und Phantasie, technisch arbeitete er vor allem mit Öl- und Aquarellfarben. -- -- - Wir bitten darum, Zustandsberichte zu den Losen zu erfragen, da der Erhaltungszustand nur in Ausnahmefällen im Katalog angegeben ist. -- - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalogue.

    Bassenge Auctions
  • TAY BAK KOI | My Village
    Nov. 05, 2023

    TAY BAK KOI | My Village

    Est: S$1,500 - S$3,000

    30 x 30 cm ; 55.5 x 54.5 cm ( with frame ) watercolour on paper signed lower right 鄭木奎《我的村子》 水彩 纸本 款识：Bak Koi（右下） This lot is located in Indonesia

    33 Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI | Still Life
    Nov. 05, 2023

    TAY BAK KOI | Still Life

    Est: S$5,000 - S$7,000

    52.8 x 74 cm ; 78.5 x 99.5 cm (with frame) watercolour and gouache on paper, framed signed and dated '65 lower right 鄭木奎《静物》 1965年作 水彩 水粉 纸本 镜框 款识：Bak Koi '65（右下） This lot is located in Singapore

    33 Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI | Sunset Buffaloes
    Nov. 05, 2023

    TAY BAK KOI | Sunset Buffaloes

    Est: S$30,000 - S$45,000

    119.5 x 120 cm ; 151.5 x 152 cm (with frame) oil on canvas signed and dated '96 lower middle 鄭木奎《日落水牛》1996年作 油彩 画布 款识：Bak Koi 96（中下） This lot is located in Singapore

    33 Auction
  • Tay Bak Koi (b. 1939 - 2005) Untitled
    Oct. 01, 2023

    Tay Bak Koi (b. 1939 - 2005) Untitled

    Est: RM35,000 - RM55,000

    A herd of buffaloes in Tay Bak Koi's inimitable style of the animals shaped like Minangkabau roofs are painted expressively with a cowherd resting on the side. The topography is punctuated by the curved horns like little sickels. The sharp-angled hump forms with thinly etched outlines and the play of colours in warm hues enhance the beauty of this piece. Chia Wai Hon wrote on his buffaloes: "… tightly stylised creature with a massive body supported on two pairs of inverted V-shaped legs, a small head and a sharp hump…" Tay Bak Koi, who studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) from 1957 to 1960, under the tutelage of pioneer artists including Georgette Chen and Cheong Soo Pieng, painted in the Nanyang Style. The son of a seafood wholesaler, he had his first solo of 40 works at the Singapore National Library in 1964. In October 1996, The Art Gallery Penang hosted a solo for him, titled In Harmony With Nature. Recently, Reverie: Tay Bak Koi exhibition was held at NAFA Ngee Ann Kongsi Galleries 1 & 2 from 19 August to 3 September, 2023.

    Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
  • Tay Bak Koi
    Jun. 17, 2023

    Tay Bak Koi

    Est: €700 - €1,400

    Tay Bak Koi 1939 Singapur - 2003 Singapur - Fischer bei Sonnenaufgang - Gouache/Papier. 30 x 30 cm (Passepartoutausschnitt). Sign. r. u.: Bak Koi. Passepartout. Unter Glas gerahmt. Indonesia, Singapore

    Das Kunst- und Auktionshaus Kastern GmbH & Co KG
  • BAK KOI TAY (1939-2005) DRAWING - WATERCOLOR "CHARACTERS IN THE FOREST"
    Apr. 02, 2023

    BAK KOI TAY (1939-2005) DRAWING - WATERCOLOR "CHARACTERS IN THE FOREST"

    Est: €2,000 - €4,000

    Bak Koi TAY (1939-2005) drawing - watercolor "characters in the forest" - Weight: 2.20 kg - Shipping available - Sizes: HC h 280 mm L 290 mm - At first glance: excellent condition - Author / artist: Bak Koi TAY

    Goldfield Auction
  • Tay Bak Koi (b. 1939 - 2005) Untitled, 1999
    Mar. 19, 2023

    Tay Bak Koi (b. 1939 - 2005) Untitled, 1999

    Est: RM68,000 - RM100,000

    A herd of buffaloes in Tay Bak Koi's inimitable style of the animals shaped like Minangkabau roofs provides a welcome distraction in this work with two cowherds resting on the side. The topography is punctuated by the white curved horns like little sickels. The sharp-angled hump forms with thinly etched outlines and the play of colours are as bright as the warm hues enhance the beauty of this piece. Chia Wai Hon wrote on his buffaloes:"… tightly stylised creature with a massive body supported on two pairs of inverted V-shaped legs, a small head and a sharp hump…" Tay Bak Koi, who studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957-1960, painted in the Nanyang Style. The son of a seafood wholesaler, he had his first solo of 40 works at the Singapore National Library in 1964. In October 1996, The Art Gallery Penang hosted a solo for him, In Harmony With Nature.

    Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
  • TAY BAK KOI | Man and Buffaloes
    Dec. 04, 2022

    TAY BAK KOI | Man and Buffaloes

    Est: S$6,000 - S$8,000

    49 x 63.3 cm ; 78 x 92 cm ( with frame ) oil on canvas signed lower left 鄭木奎《人和水牛》约1980年代作 油彩 画布 款识：Bak Koi（左下） Bid online at https://auctions.33auction.com/lots/view/1-6R6GQO/tay-bak-koi-man-and-buffaloes

    33 Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI | Market Scene
    Dec. 04, 2022

    TAY BAK KOI | Market Scene

    Est: S$12,000 - S$18,000

    60.5 x 90 cm; 77 x 107 cm (with frame) oil on canvas, framed painted circa 1950s Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist by Goh Beng Kwan; Acquired from the above by the present owner 鄭木奎《市集现场》1950年代作 油彩 画布 画框 出处：吴珉权直接购自艺术家本人； 现藏家购自上述 Bid online at https://auctions.33auction.com/lots/view/1-6R6GQM/tay-bak-koi-market-scene

    33 Auction
  • Tay Bak Koi (b. Singapore, 1939 - 2005) Kampong Houses On The River, 1974; Untitled
    Nov. 06, 2022

    Tay Bak Koi (b. Singapore, 1939 - 2005) Kampong Houses On The River, 1974; Untitled

    Est: RM4,000 - RM7,000

    On offer here are a set of ink and gouache works illustrating a peaceful setting, painted in the style of Chinese ink painting, reinterpreted using a new medium. The essential forms distilled into abstract shapes encapsulates the dream-like ambience of the river scene. Kampong Houses On The River depicts a serene village view with a few beautifully rested boats placed in the foreground, which gives a feeling of depth and space. Another piece depicts two figures enjoying each other's company under a majestic tree, looking out into the expansive riverscape. Tay Bak Koi, who studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957-1960, painted in the Nanyang Style. The son of a seafood wholesaler, he had his first solo of 40 works at the Singapore National Library in 1964. In October 1996, The Art Gallery Penang hosted a solo for him, In Harmony With Nature.

    Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
  • TAY BAK KOI | Untitled (Landscape)
    Sep. 18, 2022

    TAY BAK KOI | Untitled (Landscape)

    Est: S$3,000 - S$4,000

    45 x 30 cm ; 64 x 47 cm (with frame) mixed media on paper, framed signed lower left Provenance: Acquired from Eagle Eye's Art Gallery, Singapore; Private collection, Singapore 鄭木奎《无题（风景）》 综合媒材 纸本 画框 款识：Bak Koi 木奎（左下） 出处：购自于新加坡EAGLE EYE'S画廊；新加坡私人收藏 Bid online at https://auctions.33auction.com/lots/view/1-6EP6VP

    33 Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI | Untitled
    Aug. 21, 2022

    TAY BAK KOI | Untitled

    Est: Rp60,000,000 - Rp80,000,000

    69 x 90 cm; 93.9 x 111.8 cm (with frame) watercolour on paper signed middle left 鄭木奎《无标题》 水彩 纸本 款识：Bak Koi（左中）

    33 Auction
  • Tay Bak Koi (b. Singapore, 1939 – 2005) Untitled, 1999
    Jul. 17, 2022

    Tay Bak Koi (b. Singapore, 1939 – 2005) Untitled, 1999

    Est: RM70,000 - RM120,000

    A herd of buffaloes in Tay Bak Koi’s inimitable style of the animals shaped like Minangkabau roofs provides a welcome distraction in this work with two cowherds watching over them. The topography is punctuated by the white curved horns like little sickels. The sharp-angled hump forms with thinly etched outlines and the play of colours are reminiscent of the cretaceous sandstone-and-siltstone rainbow mountains of China at the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. Earlier works of buffaloes were limited to mostly green and blue. Chia Wai Hon wrote on his buffaloes: “… tightly stylised creature with a massive body supported on two pairs of inverted V-shaped legs, a small head and a sharp hump…” Tay Bak Koi, who studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957-1960, worked in the Nanyang Style. The son of a seafood wholesaler, he had his first solo of 40 works at the Singapore National Library in 1964. In October 1996, The Art Gallery Penang hosted a solo show for him, In Harmony With Nature.

    Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
  • Tay Bak Koi (b. Singapore, 1939 - d. 2005) Untitled
    Dec. 05, 2021

    Tay Bak Koi (b. Singapore, 1939 - d. 2005) Untitled

    Est: RM70,000 - RM120,000

    A herd of buffaloes in Tay Bak Koi’s inimitable style of the animals shaped like Minangkabau roofs provides a welcome distraction in this work with two cowherds resting on the side. The topography is punctuated by the white curved horns like little sickels. The sharp-angled hump forms with thinly etched outlines and the play of colours are as bright as the warm hues enhance the beauty of this piece. Chia Wai Hon wrote on his buffaloes: “… tightly stylised creature with a massive body supported on two pairs of inverted V-shaped legs, a small head and a sharp hump…” Tay Bak Koi, who studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957-1960, worked in the Nanyang Style. The son of a seafood wholesaler, he had his first solo of 40 works at the Singapore National Library in 1964. In October 1996, The Art Gallery Penang hosted a solo for him, In Harmony With Nature.

    Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
  • Tay Bak Koi (1939-2003) Spring Pasture
    Nov. 27, 2021

    Tay Bak Koi (1939-2003) Spring Pasture

    Est: $80,000 - $120,000

    Tay Bak Koi (1939-2003) Spring Pasture 1996 signed and dated 96 oil on canvas 98 by 70 cm. 38 5/8 by 27 4/8 in. For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website

    Bonhams
  • Tay Bak Koi (1939-2003) Singapore River
    Nov. 27, 2021

    Tay Bak Koi (1939-2003) Singapore River

    Est: $100,000 - $120,000

    Tay Bak Koi (1939-2003) Singapore River circa 1970s signed oil on canvas 101 by 103.5 cm. 39 6/8 by 40 6/8 in. For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website

    Bonhams
  • TAY BAK KOI (SINGAPOREAN 1939-2005) UNTITLED
    Nov. 05, 2021

    TAY BAK KOI (SINGAPOREAN 1939-2005) UNTITLED

    Est: £400 - £600

    TAY BAK KOI (SINGAPOREAN 1939-2005) UNTITLED 鄭木奎 無題 紙本設色 鏡框 mixed media on paper, framed, signed 'Bak Koi' lower-middle right (59.5cm x 59.5cm) Qty: (1) Provenance: Private Scottish collection, by repute acquired from Singapore in the early 1980s Footnote: Note: A second-generation Singaporean artist, Tay Bak Koi is well known for paintings with Southeast Asian themes, this includes the portrayals of fishing villages, kampong scenes and buffalo. Over and beyond the quintessential realistic depiction of Southeast Asian lives, his distinctive style combined a mixture of realism and fantasy to create truly unique works of art. Predominantly using oil paint, watercolour was another favoured medium for Tay. In the example presented here, Tay employs watercolour as the base, oil, gouache or other mediums to detail the landscape, achieving a sense of tranquillity and modernity.

    Lyon & Turnbull
  • TAY Bak Koi (Singapore 1939-2003), Two Figures by a River, W/Clr & Gouache, 22x25cm
    Oct. 24, 2021

    TAY Bak Koi (Singapore 1939-2003), Two Figures by a River, W/Clr & Gouache, 22x25cm

    Est: $600 - $1,000

    TAY, Bak Koi (Singapore 1939-2003) Two Figures by a River Signed lower right. W/Clr & Gouache 22x25cm

    Davidson Auctions
  • TAY BAK KOI (Singaporean, 1939–2005) Harvest oil on canvas on masonite
    Oct. 18, 2021

    TAY BAK KOI (Singaporean, 1939–2005) Harvest oil on canvas on masonite

    Est: $2,000 - $3,000

    TAY BAK KOI (Singaporean, 1939–2005) Harvest oil on canvas on masonite Signed lower right. Raya gallery label to verso. 22.5 x 29cm

    Leonard Joel
  • Tay Bak Koi (Singaporean, 1939-2005) 'Under the Shade'
    Sep. 14, 2021

    Tay Bak Koi (Singaporean, 1939-2005) 'Under the Shade'

    Est: £800 - £1,200

    Tay Bak Koi (Singaporean, 1939-2005) 'Under the Shade' signed 'Bak Koi' (centre left), inscribed with title (next to gallery stamp within frame) watercolour and gouache 66.4 x 66cm (26 1/8 x 26in). For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website

    Bonhams
  • Tay Bak Koi (b. Singapore, 1939 - d. 2005) Fishing Village, 1966
    Aug. 22, 2021

    Tay Bak Koi (b. Singapore, 1939 - d. 2005) Fishing Village, 1966

    Est: RM5,500 - RM9,500

    On offer here is an ink and gouache on paper which illustrate a peaceful setting of fishing village. It is a serene village view with a few beautifully rested boats parked on the side and some figures are seen riding their boats to commute. This piece is an example of simplicity at its best. Tay Bak Koi, who studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art in 1957-1960, worked in the Nanyang Style. The son of a seafood wholesaler, he had his first solo of 40 works at the Singapore National Library in 1964. In October 1996, The Art Gallery Penang hosted a solo for him, In Harmony With Nature. Bak Koi’s works are in the collection of the National Gallery Singapore, Singapore Hilton and Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Rashed al-Kalifa.

    Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
  • TAY BAK KOI | Landscape with the Blue Tree
    Mar. 28, 2021

    TAY BAK KOI | Landscape with the Blue Tree

    Est: S$2,800 - S$3,800

    60 x 60 cm ; 77 x 67 x 2 cm (with frame) mixed media on paper, framed signed lower right 鄭木奎《風景與藍樹》 綜合媒材 紙本 畫框

    33 Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI : Village in the Hills, 1970's
    Mar. 28, 2021

    TAY BAK KOI : Village in the Hills, 1970's

    Est: RM7,000 - RM15,000

    Tay’s paintings are adorned with neutral colours, complemented by complexity and richness both in texture and form, which far surpass those of his earlier paintings. His works embody a dreamlike quality, often blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, emitting a sense of tranquillity, and even timelessness. As portrayed in this gouache on paper piece, there’s a 69 sense of tranquility that surrounds this work. This circular artwork is something one dreams of, depicting a small village set among nature, with undulating hills as its backdrop and a small river is seen near the village, with a raft docked at the bank.

    KLAS Art Auction
  • Tay Bak Koi (b. Singapore, 1939 - d. 2005) Untitled, 1996
    Mar. 21, 2021

    Tay Bak Koi (b. Singapore, 1939 - d. 2005) Untitled, 1996

    Est: RM70,000 - RM100,000

    This must be one of the best executed of Tay Bak Koi’s inimitable buffalo pictures to come into the market. Instead of the usual bright colours, a tawny brown veneer permeates with the lie of land and natural protrusions forming a geometric play with the animals’ hump backs. The Singapore critic Chia Wai Hon praised Bak Koi’s buffaloes as “… tightly stylized creature with a massive body supported on two pairs of inverted V-shaped legs, a small head and a sharp hump…” Singapore’s pioneer gallerist Della Butcher wrote: “Tay Bak Koi’s paintings are unmistakable. He combines fantasy and reality with such skill that his work has an appeal which is a mixture of colour, blending fine draftsmanship (sic, draughtsmanship) and impressionist mystery, a unique combination.” Tay Bak Koi, who studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art in 1957-60, worked in the Nanyang Style. The son of a seafood wholesaler, he had his first solo of 40 works at the Singapore National Library in 1964. In October 1996, The Art Gallery Penang hosted a solo for him, In Harmony With Nature. Bak Koi’s works are in the collection of the National Gallery Singapore, Singapore Hilton and Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Rashed al-Kalifa.

    Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
  • TAY BAK KOI : Malay Figures in Boat Beneath Trees, 1981
    Feb. 07, 2021

    TAY BAK KOI : Malay Figures in Boat Beneath Trees, 1981

    Est: RM18,000 - RM36,000

    Second-generation Singaporean artist, Tay Bak Koi is fondly known for his illustrations of urban landscapes, fishing villages and ‘kampung’. He was born in 1939. His artistic beginnings came from an innate talent and potential, which was later recognised by his father’s friend, who subsequently enrolled him in the prestigious Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in 1957. To date, his works have been featured in numerous exhibitions around the world, including Hong Kong, Australia, Germany, Japan and the United States. One can discern that Tay’s artistic career has gone through a distinct evolution. When he began in 1964, his works emanated a strong resemblance to his mentor, Cheong Soo Pieng’s. Then, as Tay gained experience and grew in experimentation, his art started to come to life in a unique way. The Singaporean landscapes in Tay’s paintings thrive on a palette dominated by neutral colours. Their complexity and richness both in texture and form far surpass those of his earlier paintings. Progressing from the bold and abstract, Tay’s works subsequently embodied a dreamlike quality, often blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, emitting a sense of tranquillity, and even timelessness.

    KLAS Art Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI | River Mouth
    Dec. 21, 2020

    TAY BAK KOI | River Mouth

    Est: S$6,000 - S$8,000

    59.5 x 110.5 cm; 76.5 x 127.5 cm (with frame) mixed media on paper, framed signed lower middle This work is located in Singapore

    33 Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI | Buffaloes with Wholesome Meal
    Dec. 21, 2020

    TAY BAK KOI | Buffaloes with Wholesome Meal

    Est: S$14,000 - S$20,000

    67 x 91 cm ; 79 x 100 cm (with frame) oil on canvas, framed signed lower left This work is located in Singapore

    33 Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI : Malay Fishermen, 1981
    Dec. 13, 2020

    TAY BAK KOI : Malay Fishermen, 1981

    Est: RM18,000 - RM35,000

    The lines between fantasy and reality are often blurred when it comes to works done by Tay Bak Koi. He incorporates that idyllic and dream-like quality into his paintings and made it his signature. In fact, he is known for merging fantasy with realism. For instance, his realistic sceneries and landscapes are often injected with fairytale-like interjections. This emphasises the hybridisation of reality and perception, as seen in this piece. As indicated by its title, the ‘Malay Fishermen standing in the Water, 1981’ is a serene work depicting seven fishermen standing waist-deep in water with their rods and straw hats.

    KLAS Art Auction
  • TAY BAK KOI (1939-2005) Clifford Pier oil on canvas 86.5 x 100 cm. (34 x 39
    Dec. 03, 2020

    TAY BAK KOI (1939-2005) Clifford Pier oil on canvas 86.5 x 100 cm. (34 x 39

    Est: $100,000 - $150,000

    TAY BAK KOI (1939-2005) Clifford Pier oil on canvas 86.5 x 100 cm. (34 x 39 3/8 in.)

    Christie's
  • TAY BAK KOI (1939-2005) Buffaloes Grazing on Field oil on canvas 120 x 181.
    Dec. 03, 2020

    TAY BAK KOI (1939-2005) Buffaloes Grazing on Field oil on canvas 120 x 181.

    Est: $140,000 - $220,000

    TAY BAK KOI (1939-2005) Buffaloes Grazing on Field oil on canvas 120 x 181.5 cm. (47 1/4 x 71 1/2 in.)

    Christie's
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