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Lot Essay
Known for her characteristic style that exaggerates and emphasizes the fluid physicality of her female figures, Malaysian artist Chong Ai Lei deploys a strong painterly technique to depict the distinctly contemporary. Love, Romance (True Romance Series) (Lot 702) is a continuation of the artist's preoccupation with the rare moments of absorption and rapt attention that continue to be experienced despite the myriad of distractions available to us in our fast-paced, digitalized lives. Reclining on a bed, the female figure is enraptured by a book, 'Young Romance', with an illustrated front-cover reminiscent of classic comic books. Suggesting a nostalgia for past ideals of love, as well as an appreciation for the simple pleasure of being absorbed in a book, Chong allows us a quiet reprieve from the chaos of modern life.
Acclaimed for his unique use of colour, and compositional sensibilities, Kow Leong Kiang has established himself as one of the most exciting and upcoming contemporary artists in the region. The first Malaysian artist to receive the prestigious Phillip Morris ASEAN Art Award in 1998, Kow Leong Kiang has exhibited extensively in the Southeast Asian region, as well as in China, the United States of America, and Europe. Daydream (Lot 703) is a contemplative study in portraiture, as well as a detailed appreciation of the landscape of rural Malaysia. The style of photorealism that Kow has employed here is a testament to his technical skill and painterly ability. The dense greenery that occupies the main foreground of the painting is finely executed, and allows for the viewer's immersion into the scene. Placed directly within the environment, the painting's subject represents a romantic ideal for the artist - her simple, natural beauty complemented by the lush expanse of her surroundings.
Acclaimed for his unique use of colour, and compositional sensibilities, Kow Leong Kiang has established himself as one of the most exciting and upcoming contemporary artists in the region. The first Malaysian artist to receive the prestigious Phillip Morris ASEAN Art Award in 1998, Kow Leong Kiang has exhibited extensively in the Southeast Asian region, as well as in China, the United States of America, and Europe. Daydream (Lot 703) is a contemplative study in portraiture, as well as a detailed appreciation of the landscape of rural Malaysia. The style of photorealism that Kow has employed here is a testament to his technical skill and painterly ability. The dense greenery that occupies the main foreground of the painting is finely executed, and allows for the viewer's immersion into the scene. Placed directly within the environment, the painting's subject represents a romantic ideal for the artist - her simple, natural beauty complemented by the lush expanse of her surroundings.