AW TEE HONG | Untitled (Singapore river scene)

Private Collection, Singapore

This work is in good overall condition as viewed. All inconsistencies are inherent to the artist's working method. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals no signs of restoration. Framed.
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Singaporean artist Aw Tee Hong provides viewers with a vignette into the idyllic landscape of the country which he grew up in, and commemorates the cultural spirit of Singapore, one that overflows with exuberance and an ethereal beauty. Born in 1939 in Hainan, China, Aw spent the most of his years in Malaysia and Singapore, and studied at the esteemed Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, as well as the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Aw dedicated his talents to shaping Singapore’s artistic and cultural developments, and constantly drew inspiration from his immediate surroundings to create intricate and colorful portrayals of his homeland. This extensive landscape piece captures beautifully Aw’s pursuit of his art as well as his multicultural influences, as he illustrates a scene, suspended in a time of expanding urbanization. Aw’s oeuvre was shaped by the social, political and economic changes that he faced, and this work is indicative of Singapore’s transformation from a quiet fishing village to a bustling, modern nation. At the foreground of the canvas are fishermen, working ceremoniously on their rugged boats, while a mix of shop houses and taller buildings alternate between each other on the skyline, framing this rare moment of serenity. Aw generates an atmosphere of dreamy nostalgia as he dots the surface of the river with gentle strokes of velvety yellows and pearly whites, causing it to glimmer under the luminous glow of the setting sun. Peaceful and uninterrupted, Aw’s careful arrangement of the river and the city permeate the canvas with a sense of depth which serve to emanate his unwavering sentiments for the natural beauty of Singapore.