Lot 17 | Auction XXXVIII

 

 

Lot 17

TAN RAHIM

B. Perak, 1934

i. Movement in Blue, 1970s

ii. Lady in Red, 1970s

Unsigned, Acquired by the collector from Leong Brothers Framers, Kuala Lumpur

Batik

i. 48 x 74 cm

ii. 78 x 48 cm

Provenance Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur

RM 300 – RM 800

Tan Rahim is known for his impressive experimentation with abstraction in the batik medium. He was largely a self-taught artist, committing himself to painting in the early 1970’s. In Movement in Blue, he depicts the fluidity in movements with two masculine figures on the left and one feminine figure on the right in silhouettes. In Lady in Red, Tan Rahim brings out feminine promiscuity with sultry hues of red, with a strong emphasis on the chest area. The shadow of the lady in red, makes it seem that the artist was conveying a bigger yet subtle message.