Acknowledged as the father of modern Malaysian painting, Yong Mun Sen is generally known for his idyllic watercolors of pastoral Malaysian and Southeast Asian landscapes. However although his forte was in watercolors, he was also a highly accomplished oil painter, preferring to focus on similar subjects but executed in larger and more dramatic formats. Yong's compositions are generally uncomplicated and possess a fluidity and grace within their often plein-air renditions. His approach veers closely toward realism, yet he eschews overly detailed depictions for a more free spirited portrayal, partially drawn from impression rather than fact.
Looking at Kedah Point from Penang Beach (Lot 320) is in exemplary example of Yong's oil works, indicative of his extraordinary grasp of depth and perspective, while simultaneously conjuring images of a quieter, simpler period in the history of the country. Depicting a placid beach cove, with Malaysian villagers watching the boats wend their way home across the inlet, underneath towering coconut trees, Yong Mun Sen grasps the tenor of Malaysian country life and preserves it in loving posterity upon his canvas.