A pivotal figure in Malaysian modernism, Jolly Koh was among the “Magnificent Seven” artists of the landmark 1967 GRUP exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. This watershed event for Malaysian modern art saw him exhibiting alongside peers like Syed Ahmad Jamal and Latiff Mohidin, and it affirmed Koh’s status as a leading light of his generation. He has since been regarded as a prime mover of modern Malaysian art, acclaimed for powerful works that fuse dynamic brushwork with an exquisite exploration of light, colour and space.  Koh often draws inspiration from landscapes and flora. Known locally as the semarak tree, the flame-of-the-forest is celebrated for its fiery blossoms, a spectacle that offers a riot of bright colours when in full bloom. This is a rare masterpiece of absolute quality. The strokes, the depth, the tactile effect, and the overall composition show his impeccable painting skill. Jolly Koh is best known as one of the Magnificent 7 of the GRUP (1967, 2017) coterie who was given a retrospective-scale solo by Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers in 2017 dubbed Jolly Koh@76 celebrating 60 years of art.  His tutelage is diverse: Hornsey College of Art in London; Institute of Education in London University; and Indiana University, USA. He had taught at the Mara Institute of Technology, the Gaya College in Sabah, MSC College (now SeGi) and in Australia (Melbourne and Adelaide). Dubbed a boy wonder in art, he held his first solo at the British Council, Kuala Lumpur, at the age of 16.