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.
