LOT 79
LONG THIEN SHIH
B. Selangor, 1946
The Monkey and the Coconut, 2015
Signed and dated “Thien Shih 2015” on lower right
Ink on paper
29 x 24 cm
Provenance Private Collection, Selangor
RM 800 – RM 2,000
This marvelous ink on paper by Long Thien Shih illustrates a member of the primate family as it clutches a coconut in its palms. It is a scene familiar to Malaysian eyes, especially in the rural area, but never before has something so common be captured in an artistic way. This piece also gives off an aura of nostalgia and despite being so simple and sweet, it is priceless at the same time.
Long Thien Shih studied art in Atelier 17 and Atelier de Lithographic, Ecole Nationale Superlure des Beaux-Arts, both in Paris. Thereafter, he studied at the Royal College of Art in London. He has won awards such as the First Prize in the 1961 Young Malayan Artists Competition in Kuala Lumpur and the 1992 Prints Prize in Salon Malaysia and has produced many artworks, using various mediums.