Tay Bak Koi

(1939-2003)

Spring Pasture

Footnotes

Provenance
Eagle's Eye Art Gallery, Singapore
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner
Private Collection, Singapore

鄭木奎
春天里的草原
一九九六年作

簽名：Bak Koi 96
油彩畫布

來源
新加坡Eagle's Eye畫廊
現藏家得自上述畫廊
新加坡私人收藏

Spring Pasture by Tay Bak Koi is an archetypical example of his oeuvre, the water buffalo being one of his favourite subjects—a lingering memory from his childhood during a time when buffaloes still roamed his village in Potong Pasir (Singapore). Tay's buffaloes are stylistically distinct, simplified into fluid geometrical shapes. They captivate the eye, invoking both modern abstraction and ancient cave paintings simultaneously, demonstrating the artist's extraordinary versatility. The figures in the painting play secondary roles, almost diminutive compared to the large herd of buffalo. The colours are earthy and deep, set against a sea of dark olive with patches of white, possibly pools of water reflecting the sky. Tay's works are unmistakable for their whimsical and romantic approach to familiar local themes, as he plays on the knife-edge between figuration and abstraction.