LOT 37
LYE YAU FATT
B. Kedah, 1950
Cherries on a Table, 2016
Signed and dated on lower right
Acrylic on canvas
62 x 81 cm
Provenance
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
RM 7,500 – RM 12,000
Although artist Lye Yau Fatt studied printmaking in the US and has been in the art industry for more than 40 years now, he seems very stuck to his Asian and Malaysian roots as evidently shown in his works.
Being mentored by Cheong Soo Pieng, Lye Yau Fatt admitted to being very inspired by Cheong’s idea and compositions of art but despite all that, he often produced artworks that were full on the Malaysian theme and lifestyle.
Lye Yau Fatt has a proclivity for looking for themes and substance for his art pieces in regular objects. This is clearly demonstrated by this still-life piece, the objects are systematically executed, with precision and absolute care for neatness. The intricacy of his techniques in this piece, making this truly something that reminds you of a Nyonya home – simple yet lovely. It brings a nostalgic feeling of antiquity, a Chinese Peranakan culture .
Lye Yau Fatt was born in Kedah in 1950, he studied printmaking in New York. He held his first solo exhibition in 1979 at the Sum Art Gallery and has then gone on to win the Open Art Sculpture Award, the Malaysian Watercolour Society Award in 1987 and the PNB Watercolour Landscape Award.
His works have been part of Sotheby’s Singapore, auctions in Malaysia and are in the collection of National Art Gallery Kuala Lumpur, Bank Negara Malaysia, Shell Malaysia, French Embassy Kuala Lumpur, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lion City Hotel Singapore, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia, Syarikat Telekom Malaysia Berhad and HRH the Sultan of Kedah.