Singapore River

A vision of what seems to be a depiction of the bustling Singapore River, (lot 187) by Singapore artist Aw Tee Hong is a breath-taking show of Aw's technical prowess in the use of oil paint on canvas. Painted between 1961-1983, this extensive landscape piece stretches nearly five metres long and is one of the largest in this medium that the artist has made, marking this as a real extraordinary display of talent from the artist. Born in Hainan, China, Aw migrated to Kelantan, Malaysia during the war and settled in Singapore, studying at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and subsequently at Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. A versatile artist, Aw worked with a large number of artistic techniques and mediums including the use of industrial materials when it was readily available in the 1970s. Undoubtedly, Aw was inspired by his surroundings, including the social, political and economic changes that were happening all around him. Aw's artistic career, spanning six decades, saw him repeatedly depict the urbanising landscape and the everyday lives of the locals as Singapore transformed from a quiet fishing village to a modern nation. With every stroke of his brush, Aw worked earnestly towards capturing Singapore as he knew it, imbuing his works with an ephemeral quality of light and depth. Blues, greens and earth tones dominate the colour palette of this work, creating an atmosphere of faded nostalgia of the island's yesteryears. With rugged boats anchored firmly in the foreground and the mix of grounded buildings and shophouses weaving in and out, framing the skyline, this painting by Aw Tee Hong represents a small part of Singapore's vibrant history and culture for future generations to look upon in wonder. Many of Aw's works can be found in both private and public collections with notable pieces like 'Pioneering Spirit', Sculpture 1988) and 'Epic of Singapore', Mural (1990) found in public spaces throughout Singapore. Aw's contributions go beyond his practice to his dedication and commitment in shaping Singapore's artistic and cultural landscape.