Tay Bak Koi

Tay Bak Koi is one of Singapore's most renowned home-grown artists. Known for his unique style and unusual countryside subjects, Bak Koi's paintings are refreshingly poignant. Forget about the woes of civilisation, the hassle of urbanisation. There is none of such in Bak Koi's paintings. You will find peace and tranquility in the delightful pastels and bright coloured, sun-kissed or occasionally cool blue-green scenarios. He takes you through flights or fantasy, into an ethereal realm, so pure and divine.
The paintings of humble, warm and loving villagers speak much about the personality of the artist, which is as genuine as his art. The mountain and forest scenes are often complemented by calm flowing rivers in all stillness. The artist shares with us his moments of rest, just as the people gather together in adoration of a breathtaking scene. The people symbolise the warmth of humanity in an ideal community that live and work in unison and harmony.
Bak Koi is a true artist at heart, who paints for the love of it. He believes in his God-given talent, which made him decide to become a full-time artist despite the initial hardship and struggle. His refusal to take part in any art competitions demonstrates his genuine confidence freed from all sense of commercialism.
His works are imaginative, partly fictive as they are mainly drawn from inspirations from his travels to places in the South East Asia region. Yet, the appeal of his art transcends time and boundaries. He has achieved great popularity since the 1970s. His paintings are brought by collectors from as far as the U.S, Europe, Australia and Japan. He is also represented in the Singapore National Museum's permanent collection.