LOT 43
HARON MOKHTAR
B. Selangor, 1963
Shih Chung Primary School 3 (Georgetown), 1999
Signed and dated “Haron Mokhtar 99” on lower left
Mixed media on canvas
47 x 32 cm
Provenance Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
RM 7,000 – RM 9,000
Haron Mokhtar is known for his original use of space – and often, his compositions contain architecture at the top part of the canvas, and the people associated with said architecture at the bottom half, resulting in a substantial amount of empty space in between. In this piece, Haron illustrates a school – Shih Chung Primary School, and then leaves a whole space vacant in the middle with a painting of someone riding a vintage bicycle looking at the school. With very little effort, Haron utilizes the availability of space to link two different types of subjects on canvas.
The choice of red hues suggest the time of the scenery took place after school during a sunset. There is a certain joy that comes off the work. As if greeting an ending to welcome another day, a new beginning.