LOT 66
RAPHAEL SCOTT AHBENG
B. Sarawak, 1939
Sumbang Hillside Homes, 2011
Signed and titled “RSA ‘11 Sumbang
Hillsides Homes” on lower right
Oil on board
61 x 91 cm
Provenance
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
RM 4,000 – RM 9,000
Raphael Scott Ahbeng has a particularly strong, individualist persona. He is mostly recognised for his energetic depictions of the Sarawakian rainforests and his bizarre interpretation of nature, making him distinct from his contemporaries. His abstract perspective of nature is not only robust, but unusual and odd to those who are used to naturalistic ways of painting them. The canvas is decorated through heavy, forceful movements of the brush, creating an impactful piece that cannot be overlooked. It is loud; it is vigorous and filled with artistic value. His visual renditions of Sumbang Hillside Homes turned out to be subtle hints of vibrant colours amid dark, muted tones, as seen in this piece. The elements of nature here are depicted in different colours, as if separated through categories.