Born in 1939 in Singapore (d. 2005, Singapore), Tay Bak Koi graduated from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1960. Adept at painting in watercolour and oil, Tay developed a distinctive style of simplified forms and reduced lines. During 1961-1970 Tay completed 300 watercolours for the then Hilton Suites, Singapore.By the late 1980s, Tay had clearly established a unique recognisable style as a painter. He frequently painted works in either cool or monochromatic colours, in the process (especially when painting with oils) relying on textural surfaces to proved the required contrasting effect. He depicted a reality that was an amalgamation of imaginary and real, and which often had nature and peacefulness at its narrative core. And he sought to distil complex forms to their basic shapes that were emphasised by decorative details and finely tuned line work. All of these characteristics can be identified here in his ‘Fishing Rocks’.
