Lot 25 | 6 September 2020

 

 

LOT 25

TAY BAK KOI

B. Singapore, 1939 – 2005

Untitled, Circa 1980’s

Signed “Bak Koi” on lower right

Ink and colour on paper

54 x 84 cm

Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur

RM 13,000 – RM 18,000

The Singaporean landscapes in Tay’s paintings thrive on a palette dominated by neutral colours. Their complexity and richness both in texture and form far surpass those of his earlier paintings. Progressing from the bold and abstract, Tay’s works subsequently embodied a dreamlike quality, often blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, emitting a sense of tranquillity, and even timelessness. Veiled behind earthy hues, Tay illustrates two sprawled villages or ‘kampung’ and two tiny subjects.