33 Auction’s spring sale of Singaporean Art and Modern and Contemporary Asian Art, to be held May 21 at the Grand Hyatt Singapore, will feature a total of 125 lots by Singaporean, Chinese, and Southeast Asian artists with an estimated value of S$2—2.8 million (US$1.45—2.04 million).The 46 works by Singaporean artists on offer include a number of unusual pieces from important artists who have typically been associated with other media and styles. Cheong Soo Pieng’s “Composition” (1972, mixed media on board) is an abstract metal relief with a central circular motif that departs from his signature figurative style.Another rare discovery here is sculptor Ng Eng Teng’s “Portrait of Lady in Blue Dress,” an oil on canvas from 1950-1960 depicting a woman with a commanding gaze that seems to demand careful contemplation from the viewer. Meanwhile, Tay Bak Koi’s “Till The Cows Come Home” (1996) is one of the artist’s largest buffalo paintings to appear on the market in recent years, measuring 178.5 by 118.5cm.Chen Wen Hsi’s ink painting “Five Squirrels,” on the other hand, is a virtuosic piece that demonstrates Chen’s mastery of fine anatomical detail. Chua Mia Tee’s “Blue Macaws” (1993) is a masterful oil on canvas by one of Singapore’s most accomplished realist painters, while emerging star RUBEN PANG is represented by “Abstract” (2009), from his early Triad series.The sale also features a number of masterpieces by modern Indonesian painters who have shaped the development of the country’s modern art. Affandi’s “Boats by the Seaside” (1984) is a representative oil on canvas that captures the languid, idyllic marine life with a riotous blend of vibrant colors and linework, while Hendra Gunawan’s “Guerilla Hero” (Pahlawan Gerilja, 1949), a poignant record of the Yogyakarta Battle that portrays a guerilla warrior poised to strike with grenade in hand, is executed with the artist’s inimitable expressionist flair.Maverick Chinese artist Walasse Ting is represented by 7 lots, including a rare acrylic painting on canvas — “Kristel in Bedroom” (1972), a romantic but tightly composed hallucination depicting a siren-like, red-haired woman in a languorous, reclining pose.Among the other Chinese pieces on offer are Ye Yongqing’s “One of the Nine Bird Cages in Winter” (1995), a mixed media on silk piece exhibited at the 1996 Shanghai Biennale that deconstructs the symbols and motifs of the spiritual, solitary life against the backdrop of contemporary society, and Jiang Shuo’s “Blue Cat” (2015) lacquer and bronze sculpture, featuring his signature child-like guard figure satirizing Maoist followers during the Revolution perched comically on the thigh of a faceless, rather chubby cat.Click on the slideshow to see a selection of highlights from the sale.
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