Lot 059
Chuah Siew Teng
b. Penang, 1944
Street Scene, 2014
signed ‘S. TENG’ (lower left)
batik
91 x 60cm
PROVENANCE
Private collection, Selangor
ESTIMATE RM 7,000 – 12,000
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Imbued with sincerity, Siew Teng’s distinctive style is shown through this picturesque scene of colonial buildings illustrating traditional Malaysian life. A market is set against a background of busy streets crowded with people, children, and passers-by. His works are intimate studies that capture the fleeting moments of everyday life and portraying a strong sense of community. While Chuah Siew Teng, being one of the artist scions of batik-art pioneer Dato’ Chuah Thean Teng, is best known for his batik painting, this work shows up the good foundations of his British art tutelage at the Ravensbourne College of Art & Design (1965-66) and the City and Guild Art School (1966-69).
S.Teng, as he signs his works to distinguish from his more illustrious father’s ‘Teng’ imprimatur, is very versatile in all types of painting media – drawing, watercolour, oil, acrylic and batik. His batik art is distinguished by the play of light, with positive-negative elements, and with a stained-glass effect. In 1992, his batik titled The Monkey was selected for the UNICEF Greeting Card’s programme. In 1964, his painting, Joy Of Living, was awarded a Certificate of Merit in the national art competition, and in 1965, he won a prize with his painting, Outdoor, in the Malaysian artists competition. His solos were staged in four different continents – Lower Gallery, London, Britain (1967), World Art Associates, United States (1971), Argyle Art Centre, New South Wales, Australia (1972) and Kanda Gallery in Tokyo, Osaka and Okinawa in Japan (1975). That same year, in 1975, he was invited to hold demonstrations at the Freemantle Art Centre in Australia. |