LOT 25
TAN CHOH TEE
B. China, 1942
Singapore River, 1979
Oil on canvas
76 x 56 cm
Private Collection, Canada
Signed and dated on lower left
RM 30,000 – 55,000
Tan Choh Tee is a prominent Singaporean artist known for his Impressionist-style paintings that capture the essence of traditional Singapore. He moved to Singapore in 1953 and studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), where he was trained in both Eastern and Western art traditions.
He became widely recognized for his plein air (outdoor) paintings of old Singapore— particularly scenes of Chinatown, the Singapore River, and kampongs (villages)—executed with a vibrant colour palette and expressive brushwork. His works often reflect a nostalgic view of a rapidly modernizing city, capturing moments of everyday life with warmth and authenticity.