LOT 72
PETER LIEW
B. Perak, 1955
Hutton Lane I, 2012
Oil on canvas
122 x 92 cm
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
Signed on lower left. Illustrated on page 50 of “Mosaic XIII” coffeetable book. Published in 2013 by KL Lifestyle Art Space
RM 20,000 – 45,000
Peter Liew is widely regarded as one of Malaysia’s most accomplished contemporary painters, celebrated for his exceptional mastery of the oil medium and his evocative interpretations of landscape and urban environments. Born in Perak in 1955, he graduated with a Diploma in Fine Art from the Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA), where he later served as a lecturer from 1981 to 1994, nurturing a new generation of artists.
In Hutton Lane I, Peter Liew turns his attention to one of Penang’s historic streets, capturing the charm and character of its architectural heritage with remarkable sensitivity. Renowned for his mastery of oil painting, Liew transforms the familiar urban landscape into a vibrant study of light, atmosphere, and place.
Executed with rich impasto and expressive brushwork, the painting depicts a row of traditional shophouses bathed in warm sunlight. Layers of textured paint and nuanced colour create a palpable sense of depth and movement, while subtle variations in light evoke the rhythm and vitality of daily life within the historic streetscape. Rather than merely recording architecture, Liew seeks to capture the spirit of the environment and the cultural memories embedded within it.