LOT 20
TAY BAK KOI
B. Singapore, 1939 – 2005
Malay Fishermen, 1981
Signed on lower right and comes with certificate signed by the artist
Watercolour on rice paper
60 x 98 cm
Private Collection, UK
RM 18,000 – RM 35,000
The lines between fantasy and reality are often blurred when it comes to works done by Tay Bak Koi. He incorporates that idyllic and dream-like quality into his paintings and made it his signature. In fact, he is known for merging fantasy with realism. For instance, his realistic sceneries and landscapes are often injected with fairytale-like interjections. This emphasises the hybridisation of reality and perception, as seen in this piece. As indicated by its title, the ‘Malay Fishermen standing in the Water, 1981’ is a serene work depicting seven fishermen standing waist-deep in water with their rods and straw hats.