LOT 65
CHUAH THEAN TENG, DATO
B. China, 1914 – 2008
Mothers and Child, 1970’s
Batik
92 x 60 cm
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
Signed on lower right
RM 45,000 – 70,000
Themes on physical labour and mother and child are often seen in Teng’s vast output. Here, the artist’s hallmark imagery of the Mother and Child departs from his usual depiction of women and children set within the rural Malaysian village scenes, the figures (two mothers and one child) in this scene are at the foreground of the artwork, with a plain crackling background. Teng’s mother and child series illustrates his profound respect for the nurturing and even life-giving roles that women play. The artist’s early training in Chinese painting served him well technically and also influenced his compositions, and the colours he used. As Chinese philosophy emphasises balance, many of his works also are balanced in nature, or are circular compositions, promoting balance and equilibrium.