Lot 52 | 28 March 2021

 

 

LOT 52

YONG CHENG WAH

B. Penang, 1942 – 2017

Ploughing, 1964

Signed and dated “Yong Cheng Wah 64” on lower right

Batik

102 x 88 cm

Private Collection, Australia

RM 1,800 – RM 3,800

Yong Cheng Wah was a prominent figure in the Malaysian visual arts scene. He was the son of legendary artist, Yong Mun Sen. Other than hosting solo exhibits around the world, his works are collected by the National Art Gallery of Malaysia, Bank Negara, the French National bank, Paul Getty and Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. His success earned him a three- time feature on the Who’s Who in Art list and numerous prizes for art. In 1972, he started a joint venture with an American partner and founded the well-known Craft Batik in Malaysia.

His early batik artworks along with oil and watercolour paintings are a testament to his extraordinary skills in manipulating the medium with his signature technique. His works are often a piece of his memory or knowledge of the local culture and secluded areas of his home country. He used the post expressionism style as shown in his use of bright colours with emotive charge much like the great Van Gogh. A similar subject as this work was painted by the late Father of Malaysian Batik, Datuk Cheah Thean Teng.