Lot 19 | Auction XXIII

LOT 19

ONG KIM SENG
B. Singapore, 1945

Old Bridge, 1990

Signed, dated and inscribed “90 A.W.S.” on lower left

Watercolour on paper

36 x 54 cm

Provenance
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur

SOLD
RM 5,636.00

Ong is a self-taught artist, who never had any formal art training. As a realist painter, his works focus on inanimate objects, architectural form, masonry, foliage and landscape. His style is “naturalist cum impressionistic”, which is “ a combination of post-mpressionist colour and the outlook of the American realist masters”. He has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in the past three decades, had his works published by local and international publishers, and appeared on local arts television programmes.

In 1993 his work, ‘Bhaktaphur’ was the first Singapore watercolour painting to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong. In March 1994, his work, ‘Bali’ was auctioned by Christie’s in Singapore. His works are now auctioned annually in Singapore and in the region.

Ong’s works have appeared in eight books by publishers in America and China. He was Founding Editor-South East Asia for International Artist and an article on his works appeared in the first issue of the magazine in June 1998. His artwork can be find in the Singapore Art Museum, Neka Museum in Bali, Maritime Museum in Sentosa and the Hawk Gallery in Oregon, US.

His collectors include Queen Elizabeth II of England, the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic Of China, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, President of the Republic of Korea, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, the President of the Republic of the Philippines; the Prime Minister of Japan, the Prime Minister of India; the Governer of Hokkaido; Singapore Arts Museum; Singapore, Maritime Museum, , the Agung Rai Museum and Neka Museum in Bali, Indonesia ; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, Foreign Missions and Embassies of the Republic of Singapore.