LOT 48
ENG TAY
B. Kedah, 1947
An Interesting Moment IV, 1978 (Edition 99/150) & Sigh of Spring, 1980
Etching on paper (A/P)
40 x 46 cm & 65 x 51 cm (2 artworks)
Private Collection, Canada
Titled “ An Interesting Moment IV” on lower center, signed and dated “Eng Tay ‘78” on lower right.
Titled “Sigh of Spring” on lower center, signed and dated “Eng Tay ‘80” on lower right.
RM 2,800 – 4,500
These early etchings by Eng Tay encapsulate the artist’s enduring themes of intimacy, nostalgia, and the quiet poetry of everyday life. In An Interesting Moment IV from 1978, Tay captures a fleeting scene with gentle humour and empathy. The composition reveals his mastery of etching as a medium where balancing fine detailing with an atmospheric simplicity became a hallmark of his later paintings and sculptures. Meanwhile, Sigh of Spring evokes a tender mood of renewal and contemplation rendered through Tay’s delicate line work and soft tonal gradations. The work reflects his sensitivity to human emotion, transforming ordinary moments into meditations on warmth and togetherness. Both works illustrate Tay’s early explorations into narrative and form, where time seems to pause and human connections take centre stage.