LOT 64
Ong Kim Seng
B. Singapore, 1945
Street Scene, Singapore, 1980
Signed and dated on lower left
Watercolour on paper
37 x 56 cm
Provenance Private Collection, Kelantan
RM 9,000 – RM 12,000
Ong is a self-taught artist, who never had any formal art training. As a realist painter, his works focus on inanimate objects, architectural form, masonry, foliage and landscape. His style is “naturalist cum impressionistic”, which is “a combination of post-impressionist colour and the outlook of the American realist masters”. He has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in the past three decades, had his works published by local and international publishers, and appeared on local arts television programmes.
In 1993 his work, ‘Bhaktaphur’ was the first Singapore watercolour painting to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong. In March 1994, his work, ‘Bali’ was auctioned by Christie’s in Singapore. His works are now auctioned annually in Singapore and in the region.
Ong’s works have appeared in eight books by publishers in America and China. He was Founding Editor-South East Asia for International Artist and an article on his works appeared in the first issue of the magazine in June 1998. His artwork can be found in the Singapore Art Museum, Neka Museum in Bali, Maritime Museum in Sentosa and the Hawk Gallery in Oregon, US.