Lot 17
SEAH KIM JOO
B. Singapore, 1939
Sailing Boats, Singapore 1970s
Signed “Seah Kim Joo” on lower right
Batik
60 x 45 cm
Provenance Private Collection, Singapore
RM 6,500 – RM 10,000
Beautifully capturing the tranquil scene of boats sailing across the sea with large visible mainsails and headsails, Seah Kim Joo’s ‘Sailing Boats’ artwork depicts a regular evening activity. Sunset hues reflect on the sailboats while thick borders overline the shapes and warm fades into the sea – almost like bringing the scene to life.
Born in Singapore in the year 1939, Seah Kim Joo was raised in Terengganu, where he was exposed to the process of traditional batik-making. He studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1959 before returning to Malaysia, strengthening his batik skills by travelling around the east coast. After having won the First Prize at the Malayan Federation Open Art Competition two years in a row, he has then been recognised for his use of dye-and-resist technique in batik. His murals have adorned the Singapore Pavilion, and one of his paintings was selected for Singapore’s commemorative stamp series.