LOT 85
NG ENG TENG
B. Singapore, 1934-2001
Study of a Man’s Head
Patinated clay on marble base
40 cm (Height)
Provenance
Private Collection, Sabah
AVAILABLE
RM 12,000 – RM 22,000
“The human figure remains Eng Teng’s principal source of inspiration and, no matter how abstract, his works, from the earliest, tentative explorations to these mature, masterful creations, always retain some link with figuration. They can be classed into a number of categories, most of which are familiar to viewers who have followed his career because he tenaciously explores familiar themes, particularly the female figure, which his fertile imagination transforms into the most unexpected and surprising images.” – Constance Sheares, Bodies Transformed: Ng Eng Teng in the Nineties
Captured here, in the recurring theme of figures, is the thought-provoking appearance of perhaps a man’s head, a serious mien and contemplative look on his face. Dubbed the Grandfather of Singapore Sculpture, Ng Eng Teng was born in Singapore in 1934. After training his painting skills under the mentorship of Georgette Chen and Liu Kang, he went on to study ceramics in England. Upon his return, he began to actively and creatively produce large sculptures, most of which became notably famed such as Wealth, Mother and Child and The Explorer. These sculptures are still displayed in public spaces in Singapore. A recipient of Singapore’s Cultural Medallion Award and ASEAN’s Cultural Award for Visual Arts, he believed in free creation and education.