LOT 40
TAY BAK KOI
B. Singapore, 1939 – 2005
Village in the Hills, 1980’s
Watercolour and gouache on paper
60 x 98 cm
Private Collection, Johor
Signed “Bak Koi” towards lower right
RM 9,000 – 15,000
Tay Bak Koi’s Village in the Hills from the 1980s is a serene landscape that captures the tranquility of rural life in Southeast Asia. The painting, typical of Tay’s signature style, blends realism with stylized elements. Rolling hills, delicately textured, form a harmonious backdrop to clustered huts, depicted with simplistic yet evocative lines. The soft, muted color palette—gentle earth tones and pastel hues—enhances the dreamlike atmosphere. Tay’s unique interpretation of rural life evokes both nostalgia and calm, offering viewers a peaceful retreat into an idealized countryside that reflects the artist’s deep connection to nature and tradition.