Eng Tay works from
2005 - 2015
Eng Tay works from
2005 - 2015
foreword by
DATO’ MAHADZIR BIN LOKMAN
CHAIRMAN of the NATIONAL VISUAL ARTS DEVELOPMENT BOARD
It is indeed a pleasure to share a few words of appreciation for Eng Tay. A national artist whose works are a part of our National Collection, he is a prolific artist whose etchings, paintings and sculpture works have graced many homes and offices here and abroad. The resonance of charm in an Eng Tay’s masterpiece is like no other. The National Visual Art Development Board has been a custodian of his work Musical Charm (2006) and several others. It is hoped that this exhibition of ten years of his dedication in art, will continue to enthral the visitors and lovers of art. The calm countenance of his productions is an ode to his art philosophy based on his journey of Life. Since the late 1980s he had created his own aesthetic niche through the picturesque combination of eastern family values and western aesthetics.
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The artist’s works reflect a great sense of peace and harmony, and it is further strengthened by the simplicity of lines and warm earth tones. The serenity make us better appreciate the small gestures depicted by the models in the picture. Within this is his eternal message, the loving gestures of family, the rapture of togetherness, our universal ties. I trust that this exhibition will pave the way in achieving his personal mission not only to attract wider public admiration but to inspire future generations of artists to also contribute to messages conveying the eternal harmony of living together. As it is none other than the artist who is the keeper and Remembrancer of peace and harmony in this world. Thank you Eng Tay, our Remembrancer.
message from
art accent gallery
Of Eng Tay… “But sometimes when I was starting a new story and I could not get it going, I would sit in front of the fire and squeeze the peel of the little oranges into the edge of the flame and watch the sputter of blue that they made. I would stand and look out over the roofs of Paris and think, ‘Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.’ So finally I would write one true sentence, and then go on from there.” – Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast
Writing about the ones close to you is always difficult: the right words never seem to come when you need them the most. And it becomes even harder when this someone close also happens to be a person you are working with. But as Hemingway said, “Write one true sentence, and then go on from there”. I first met Eng Tay at the age of eleven or twelve. I would tag along with my mother when she had business dealings with him, and listened raptly to their conversations. He practically watched me grow up. I remember he has a fondness for watches, for an excellent cup of espresso in the morning, is an incurable wanderlust, loves to indulge in different cuisines, and partial to spas. His sense of humour is infectious, a thing about Eng Tay many might not be aware of. He always had me in stitches! As a child, I learned to play several musical instruments, and Eng Tay’s musician series is a perennial favourite. His works, of bonds between people is something everyone can relate to; deeply affecting paintings which tug at the heartstrings. They open floodgates. Some make you laugh, others make you reflect on life’s often unexpected turns, and still others just make one yearn for love, for meaning, for so much. His travels to South Africa resulted in a 2014 / 15 body of works which was heavily imbued with much of the country’s fascinating culture.
I am thrilled to write a little on Eng Tay’s latest show here with us at Art Accent: 26 oil paintings, 7 new sculptures, and a breathtaking selection of hand carved jewellery, cigar and watch boxes, all handmade from elm, and on top of each chest, an individual work meticulously lacquered. And there is a father / son series in store for Eng Tay fans, a theme he has only begun to explore. “I want to add an element of fun to my works this time around,” he muses. It is that exact kind of ‘magical thinking’ which makes his works so coveted – as if he can read minds and know what we most desire. Perhaps he does. My mother showed me that art is a thing wonderful, mystical, true, and for that I will always be grateful, and through her, I live a life extraordinary. At Art Accent, we continue to bring to audiences, works by artists which are not just poetic, but deeply inspiring. Eng Tay is one such artist. We invite you into the magical kingdom of Eng Tay, works which within them carry hope, that powerful and immortal force inside all of us. JUNE CHEONG 3
photo by Mike Mellia
artist’s statement
No matter where I go, the universal themes of family, friendship, and the everyday small activities that seep through the hustle and bustle, draw my attention most. Over the years my work has been increasingly influenced by my travels. Lately, these have taken me across broad, open spaces in remote parts of Asia and Africa, and always there are families going about their daily lives. It is the humanity that prevails in those sparse landscapes I have seen, with the softness of one horizon blending into another, that finds its way into my latest works. I always look for simplicity, and I find it in our smallest interactions with each other, which do not change, despite the continuous changes in the world around us.
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Collection of Oil Paintings
Sweet Moment 2008 40 x 40 in Oil on Canvas 8
Serenity IV 2006 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Joyful Beginning 2006 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Harmony 2005 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Good Company 2006 20 x 20 in Oil on Canvas 12
Private Concert 2008 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Introduction 2014 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Day’s Work 2014 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Daydream 2014 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Helping Hands 2015 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Intimate Talk 2007 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Family Lesson 2008 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Joyful Serenade 2014 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Together 2014 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Morning Gathering 2014 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Morning Ritual 2013 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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The Embrace 2012 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Waiting 2006 30 x 40 in Oil on Canvas
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Bearing Gifts 2012 42 x 54 in Oil on Canvas
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Our Song 2012 42 x 54 in Oil on Canvas
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End of The Day 2012 42 x 54 in Oil on Canvas
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Whispers 2011 42 x 54 in Oil on Canvas
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Summer Morning 2006 30 x 36 in Oil on Canvas
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mother and son 2005 30 x 24 in Oil on Canvas 31
Interlude VII 2005 24 x 30 in Oil on Canvas
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Heart Song 2013 24 x 30 in Oil on Canvas
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Collection of sculptures
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Rapture 2013 14 x 7 x 19 in Bronze Limited Edition of 25
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Solo V 2013 10 x 7.5 x 13.5 in Bronze Limited Edition of 25
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Solo VI 2013 10.5 x 8 x 17 in Bronze Limited Edition of 25
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Musing 2013 8 x 7.5 x 18.5 in Bronze Limited Edition of 25
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Solo IV 2013 10 x 10 x 18 in Bronze Limited Edition of 25
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Tranquillity 2013 12.5 x 11 x 13 in Bronze Limited Edition of 25
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Idle Hours 2013 11.25 x 9.75 x 11.5 in Bronze Limited Edition of 25
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biography
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Eng Tay was born and raised in Kedah, Malaysia, and his artistry was honed by the art scenes in Europe, North and South America, and Asia – particularly Southeast Asia. He is now lives and works in New York City, exhibits extensively throughout the USA, and travels regularly to Asia in conjunction with his exhibition there. He works in several media – limited edition etchings, paintings and sculpture. Most of his work has found its greatest expression when addressing the concept of family – the poetry of the family, of a man and woman, of children, of friendship, of music and of the natural world. He brings a universal quality, combined with personal myth into his works, and has evolved a narrative style that is lyrical, nostalgic, mysterious and exotic. He has found a way to reveal the harmony of life through the images of memory. Since his goal is to create simple poetry, his are not pretentious or ornate images, but a poetic language that is freely accessible and readily learned, leaving a lasting impression of people in action and poetry in motion.
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exhibitions
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SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2015
Art Accent Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2014
Adam Gallery, Singapore.
2011
Art Accent Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2009
Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2007
The Harrison Gallery, Massachusetts. Westville Gallery, Connecticut. Artfolio Gallery, Singapore. Art Salon @ Seni, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2006
Bidadari Gallery, Bali, Indonesia. Canna Gallery, Indonesia. Midday Gallery, Englewood, New Jersey. Kiaraville, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2005
Artfolio Gallery, Singapore. Galerie Sono, South Norwalk, Connecticut. Kiaraville, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2004
Galeri Citra, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Galerie Du Monde, Hong Kong, China. Multiple Impressions, New York City.
2003
Canna Gallery, Indonesia. Galerie Sono, South Norwalk, Connecticut.
2002
Galerie West, West Hampton Beach, New York City. Multiple Impressions, New York City.
2001
The Air Gallery, London, United Kingdom. Midday Gallery, Englewood, New Jersey. Galerie Du Monde, Hong Kong, China.
2000
Artfolio Gallery, Singapore. Morningside Gallery, Albany, New York City. Multiple Impressions, New York City. P&C Art, Fairfax, Virginia. Gallery 44, Ellicott City, Maryland. 51
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1999
Multiple Impressions, New York City. Midday Gallery, Englewood, New Jersey. Renjeau Galleries, Natick, Massachusetts. TRA Art Group, Troy, Michigan.
1998
Artworks Gallery, Worcester, Massachusetts. Gallery 7, Danbury, Connecticut. Sheryl Leonard Gallery, Photomac, Maryland. Big Pagoda, San Francisco, California.
1997
Artfolio Gallery, Singapore. Galeri Citra, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Multiple Impressions, New York City. Galerie Du Monde, Hong Kong, China. Renjeau Galleries, Boston, Massachusetts.
1996
Conservatory of Fine Arts, Penang, Malaysia. Morningside Gallery, Albany, New York City. JRS Fine Art, Providence, Rhode Island. Jennifer Gallery, Avon, Connecticut. Malaysian Arts Exhibition, New York City. New World Art Center, New York City. Pacific Artists in New York City.
1995
Sapo Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan. The Bell Gallery, Memphis & Michigan. Exhibition of Sculpture Multiple Impressions, New York City. Crown Arts Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan.
1994
Crown Arts Centre, Taipei, Taiwan. Multiple Impressions, New York City. Galeri Citra, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Howard Salon, Taipei, Taiwan. Fukuyama Museum of Art, Hiroshima, Japan. “Asian Sculpture� Exhibition, 163 Mercer Street Gallery, New York City. Frame Shop Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut.
1993
JRS Fine Art, Providence, Rhode Island. The Empress Place, Singapore. Triana Fine Arts Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia. The Bell Gallery, Memphis, Tennessee.
1992
Conservatory of Fine Arts, Penang, Malaysia. Artfolio, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Bell Gallery, Memphis, Tennessee.
1991
Parkshore Gallery, Naples, Florida. Premier Gallery (Host) Citywide Chamber Music Festival’s. Portfolio Gallery, Portsmouth, England. Ginger Gallery, Bristol, England. John Sewell Fine Art, Birmingham, England. Multiple Impressions, New York City.
1990
JRS Fine Art, Providence, Rhode Island. Galeri Citra, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Art Expo, New York City. Portfolio Graphics, Montclair, New Jersey. Gallery ’90, London, England. Art Expo, Los Angeles, California. Renjeau Galleries, Boston, Massachusetts. Daruma Galleries, Cedarhurst, New York City. Renaissance Gallery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Howard Scott Gallery, Miami, Florida. Soloman Fine Art, Scottsdale, Arizona.
1989
Rosenbaum Fine Arts Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Howard Salon, Taipei, Taiwan. Art Expo, Los Angeles, California.
1988
Art Expo, Los Angeles, California. Galerie Du Monde, Hong Kong, China.
1987
JRS Fine Art, Providence, Rhode Island. Hsiung Shih Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan. Art Expo, New York City. Museum of Modern Art, Taipei, Taiwan.
1986
Fine Art Original Gallery, Miami, Florida.
1985
Nan Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan.
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publications 1987 1993 2009
Eng Tay; Illustrated Graphics. Rosenbaum Fine Arts. Eng Tay; The Complete Graphics. Tapir Editions, New York City. Eng Tay; The Exhibition. GALERI PETRONAS, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
permanent collection Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hong Leong Group, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hyatt Regency, Singapore. Raffles City, Singapore. Fukuyama Museum of Art, Hiroshima, Japan. Alor Setar Art Museum, Kedah, Malaysia. Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taiwan. New York University Department of Anthropology, New York City. Development Bank of Singapore, Singapore. United States Embassy of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Mallone & Hyde, Memphis, Tennessee. Frankie Valli Estate, Boca Raton, Florida. Merv Griffin Estate, Bahamas. National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
public sculptures Kiaraville, Condominium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Pantai I-Zen, Condominium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Marc Residence, Condominium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Acknowledgement The artist wishes to thank:
DATO’ MAHADZIR BIN LOKMAN Margaret Lim June Cheong Chlei Evonne Wong
And all others who have contributed in one way or another towards the success of the exhibition and the publication of this catalog.
No. 2F - 9 & 10, Second Floor, Bangsar Village 2, Jalan Telawi Satu, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 603 2287 1908 I www.artaccent.com.my