Image size: 60.5 x 93.8 cm
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 honed his unique recognisable style as a painter, and two paintings effortlessly testify to this: ‘Tranquility’ and ‘Country Scene - Grey’. A continuation of a familiar theme, both works feature an imaginary and remote landscape where a single dwelling resides in peaceful isolation. There are the usual sprinkling of details, contrasting strokes and the high vantage point, as if viewed through the clouds. Tay has executed ‘Tranquility’ in cool tones, while ‘Country Scene - Grey’ is in warm colours. When viewed together the similarities are prevented from being overly repetitive by Tay’s exploration of colour.
