Lot 49 | Auction XVIII

LOT 49

ONG KIM SENG

B. Singapore, 1945

Chinatown Singapore, 1991

Signed and dated “A.W.S. ‘91” on lower left

Watercolour on paper
36 x 54 cm

Provenance Private Collection, Singapore

RM 14,000 – RM 24,000

For a masterpiece to come alive, there has to be a special connection between the artist and the subject. In this breathtaking painting of street sceneries, Ong Kim Seng captures the depth, the contours, the shadows and the beauty that is the architectural scenery. It is stunning, and although simple in its execution, it shows the meticulous and methodical use of fine brush strokes and skills.

Ong said, “I have to feel a place before I paint it. If I have good feelings for a scene – just as I may have good feelings for someone I meet – I know I’ll have the will to paint it well. For me, and for all painters, I believe, inspiration comes naturally when there’s a link between the artist and his subject.”