LOT 76
JEHAN CHAN
B. Melaka, 1937 – 2011
City by the River 1984 & Boat, Port II 1984
Mixed media on paper
25 x 25 cm (set of 2 artworks)
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
Signed and dated “Jehan Chan ‘84 ‘”, with artist stamp on lower left corner
RM 2,800 – 7,000
A celebrated master of Malaysian watercolour and a pioneer in modern ink painting, Melaka born artist Jehan Chan is renowned for his innovative “cracked rice paper” technique, which beautifully fuses traditional Chinese painting philosophy with a vibrant, modern impressionism. His exceptional ability to transform local landscapes into lyrical, textured spectacles is masterfully realized in his 1984 works, City by the River andBoat, Port II, painted during a highly accomplished and definitive period of his career.
In City by the River, Chan moves away from flat, literal landscape documentation, employing a masterful play of soft, fluid washes and intricate web like textures to depict an urban waterway shimmering with nostalgic charm. The composition balances architectural forms with natural elements, capturing the gentle, rhythmic reflections of riverside structures in the water below. Similarly, Boat, Port II shifts focus to the maritime pulse of the coast, where Chan utilizes sweeping, expressive brushwork and a subtle, atmospheric colour palette to breathe life into the vessels moored at the docks. Rather than rendering static maritime scenes, both canvases thrive on movement and light, using the organic patterns of his cracked paper technique to evoke the humid, sun drenched energy of Malaysia’s historic ports. By balancing precise structural placement with a deeply poetic, semi abstract warmth, these works stand as both invaluable visual archives of 1980s coastal life and timeless, mesmerizing tributes to the nation’s waterfront heritage.