LOT 31
CHUAH THEAN TENG, DATO’
B. China, 1914 – 2008
Threshing Rice, 1980’s
Batik
89 x 60 cm
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
Signed “Teng” on lower left. Illustrated on page 36 of Echoes of The Past book published by KL Lifestyle Art Space in November 2021
RM 25,000 – 55,000
In terms of Dato’ Chuah Thean Teng’s Threshing Rice piece, this is a work that is quintessentially Teng (as he is affectionately known). All the hallmarks of gesture, form and colours are depicted: colour harmony with the subtle nuances of red, blue and green, the close-cropped composition alongside the elegant configurations. According to Frank Sullivan, “His (referring to Dato’ Chuah Thean Teng) productivity in batik painting is enormous…never satisfied, he is always experimenting, seeking to give new depth and range to his batik art.”