Lot 071
CHUAH THEAN TENG, DATO'
b. China, 1912-2008
MOTHER WITH CHILD IN A SLING, c.1980s
Signed ‘Teng’ (lower right)
Batik
59.7cm x 44.5cm
PROVENANCE
Private collection, Penang;
acquired directly from the artist.
ESTIMATE RM 35,000 - 50,000
PRICE REALISED RM 50,600 |
Mother with Child in A Sling depicts a tender composition in delicate batik which underscores the bond between mother and child illustrated in angular forms. The lingering cat in the foreground adds to the somnolent effect of the cradle in a gently rocking motion. The intricate details of the patterns on the subject’s dress and sling cloth resonate with the crinkled lines along the wall and on the wooden textures. The palm tree against the bright yellow backdrop indicates a warm sunny afternoon.
Born in China in 1914, Chuah Thean Teng, or popularly known as Teng, studied at the Amoy Art School. He adapted the age-old craft of batik as a medium of fine art and thus was acknowledged as the Father of Batik Painting in Malaysia. He received international fame when his paintings entitled Two of a Kind and Tell You a Secret were selected by UNICEF for its greeting cards. He had exhibited extensively around the world, and was honoured with a retrospective exhibition at National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur in 1965 and Penang State Art Gallery in 1994. A memorial exhibition was also held in 2008 by National Art Gallery to pay tribute to Teng. For his contribution to art, he was awarded the title ‘Dato’ by the Penang State Government in 1998.
REFERENCE
Chuah Thean Teng Retrospective 1994, Penang Museum and Art Gallery, 1994.
Teng Batik, Yahong Gallery, Penang, 1968.
Teng: Appreciation, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, 2008.
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