Lot 1: Tay Bak Koi (1939-2003) Singapore River

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.
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Provenance
Private Collection, Zurich

鄭木奎
新加坡河
約一九七〇年代作

簽名：Bak Koi
油彩畫布

來源
瑞士蘇黎世私人收藏

Tay Bak Koi's charming and poetic depiction of a much-loved Singaporean subject, the Singapore River, draws the viewer into the textured expanse of water, crossed by a single boatman ferrying his passenger. The careful juxtaposition of the boatman in the foreground distances the viewer from the hustle and bustle of trading boats along the riverside, bringing about a sense of tranquility to the scene.

Tay is known for his whimsical abstractions of figurative subjects, employing a signature visual element that renders his work unmistakable. He incorporated a distinctive tent-like pointed form in his work, as can be seen in the horizon of this painting, and again repeated in the boatman's hat, the boat, and the choppy waters of the river.

Tay was a student of Cheong Soo Pieng at the Nanyang Academy and, through his teachings, learnt how to push the boundaries of his artistic expression to achieve his own very distinctive style. His works have been exhibited widely, and he is today considered one of Singapore's foremost artists of his generation.