Lot 13
SHAFIE HASSAN
b. Kedah, 1958
KLUNGKUNG BALI, 2000
Titled, signed and dated 'Klungkung Bali SHAFIE HASSAN 00' lower right
Watercolour on paper
94cm x 73.5cm
PROVENANCE
Private collection, Kuala Lumpur;
acquired directly from the artist.
ESTIMATE RM 8,000 - 12,000
PRICE REALISED RM 9,350
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Cockfighting is still a popular blood sport among the Balinese populace as a ritual in temple festivals or ceremonies with bettings on the side though gambling was banned by the Indonesian Government in 1981. The fighting roosters are carefully and lovingly nurtured and treasured for their day in the wantilan (arena for cockfighting), staking their lives in the battle. Shafie Hassan uses a clinically clean style with a poster-colour gloss, but the bright colours are deceptive especially for the cockerel which faces an uncertain fate. The brightness can also be attributed to the midday setting it is painted in. Shafie Hassan, who never sketches, based this work from photographs took during one of his trips to Bali. This was when he joined the Asian Watercolour Confederation Exhibition in 1993. As the title reveals, this scene is from the Klungkung regency or kabupaten in one of his trips.
Shafie teaches Art at the St John’s Institution in Kuala Lumpur. He was trained at the Teachers Training College in Kota Bharu from 1978 to 1979 and the Specialist Teachers Training Institute in 1986. He obtained his BFA at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang in 1994. Recognised for being one of the finest watercolourists in Malaysia, his awards include First Prize in the Permodalan Nasional Bhd. Competition in 1985, the Unity of Mankind Award (UNESCO) in 1986, and the Malaysian Watercolour Society Award in 1990.
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