Lot 21
LUI CHENG THAK
b. Negeri Sembilan, 1967
K.L. CHINATOWN, JALAN PETALING, 2001
Signed and dated 'LChengThak 2001' (lower right);
Inscribed, signed and dated on reverse
Oil on canvas
76cm x 91cm
PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Selangor.
ESTIMATE RM 6,000 - 10,000
PRICE REALISED RM 11,200 |
China Town in Kuala Lumpur is located on Petaling Street which is also known as ‘Chee Cheong Kai’ in Cantonese which means Starch Factory Street. A bustling trading centre since the early 20th century, the area continues to strive today with street peddlers and local shops operating their businesses. Lui Cheng Thak illustrates a section of the area with shoppers browsing around the enterprising street. A sight still common today, the artist captures a site that has stood the test of time.
Lui Cheng Thak graduated from the Kuala Lumpur College of Art in 1989. Known as one of Malaysia’s foremost painters of heritage buildings, his greatest muse is old buildings and street scenes in Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Penang and is renowned for his iconic paintings of windows and birdcages that pay homage to Malaysia’s heritage, history and culture. It is through exquisite technique and continual development that this artist manages to keep the art of painting alive and relevant in modern times. To date, Cheng Thak has participated in numerous exhibitions and has found much recognition for his creative expressions. Among his solo exhibitions are As I Was Passing held in Kuala Lumpur (1997), Reborn (2012), Circles: Cheng Thak, Lui Nostalgia and Collective Memory (2014), and most recently Bayang (2015), a series of new body of work focusing on the theme shadow breaking away from his signature heritage building. His paintings can be found in several prestigious collections public and private including the National Visual Arts Gallery in Kuala Lumpur.
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