Lot 43: Seah Kim Joo (b. 1939) Dayak Musicians

Seah Kim Joo (b. 1939)
Dayak Musicians

signed
batik dye and linen

86.4 by 50.8 cm.
34 by 23 5/8 in.
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The original owner, the late Ronald H. Jeffery produced a documentary on Seah Kim Joo that aired on Singapore local television in the late 1960s, titled An Artist from Singapore.

Provenance
Batik Art Gallery, Singapore (Artist's Studio)
Acquired directly from the above around 1967-1969
Collection of Ronald H. Jeffery, USA
Private Collection, California, USA (by descent from the above)

*Please note that this lot is located in Singapore. Buyer is responsible to arrange shipping from present location of lot to buyer's desired destination. To enquire shipping quote, please contact singapore@bonhams.com.


Seah Kim Joo, born in Singapore in 1939, is an established second-generation artist. He was raised in Terengganu, where he was exposed to the process of traditional batik making, which became his signature medium used to portray scenes of Singapore. Seah attended the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1959 and later became the vice-chairman of its Alumni Association.

Characteristic of the second generation of Singapore artists, Seah pushes the creative boundaries of the established Nanyang style through the use of non-conventional mediums, such as batik. The presence of Western influences can be subtly observed in the stylisation of his figures, reminiscent of cubism. At the same time, the figures also bear great similarity to Javanese wayang kulit puppets, another traditional art form that is deeply symbolic of Southeast Asia.

The sape (also known as sampe or sapeh), which is depicted in this work, is a traditional lute played by many of the Dayak communities during celebrations, such as harvest festivals ( gawai) and rituals.