{"title":"Tay Bak Koi","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eBrowse original works by Tay Bak Koi (1939–2003), Singaporean artist known for capturing Singapore's vanishing kampongs and kelongs. Student of Cheong Soo Pieng. Available on Art Again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"tay-bak-koi-untitled-buffaloes","title":"Tay Bak Koi, Untitled (Buffaloes), Undated","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWatercolour and gouache on paper \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003e24 x 24 cm (visible), 52 x 52 x 2.5 cm (framed)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eCondition: Very good.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eTay Bak Koi (1939-2003) was a Singaporean artist renowned for his portrayals of fishing villages, kampung (village) scenes and urban landscapes. He specialised in oil and watercolour. Tay’s style tends toward a blend of realism and fantasy, and he was known for his recurring stylised imagery of the buffalo. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe stylised buffalo, represented by a basic cut-out shape of a massive humped body supported by a pair of inverted V-shaped legs and a small head adorned with two elegantly-curved horns. The choice of the buffalo stemmed from the vivid impression of herds of buffalos in Potong Pasir during his childhood, which etched itself into his memory.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAcquired from Eagle’s Eye Art Gallery.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003e(Photographed in April 2024)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art Again","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51647158190445,"sku":"SQ4143510","price":2700.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4159\/2941\/files\/DSC00852-2.jpg?v=1734421452"},{"product_id":"tay-bak-koi-untitled-kampung","title":"Tay Bak Koi, Untitled (Kampung), Undated","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eWatercolour and gouache on paper \u003cbr\u003e24 x 24 cm (visible), 52 x 52 x 2.5 cm (framed)\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Very good\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eTay Bak Koi (1939-2003) was a Singaporean artist renowned for his portrayals of fishing villages, kampung (village) scenes and urban landscapes.1 He specialised in oil and watercolour. Tay’s style tends toward a blend of realism and fantasy, and he was known for his recurring stylised imagery of the buffalo. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eHis works have been exhibited extensively throughout Singapore and other countries. In 1969, he was commissioned to produce some 300 works for the opening of Hilton Hotel in Singapore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eAlthough Tay's art is seldom described as radical, it is not conformist either. His regular buyers have claimed that they can recognise his artwork from a distance. Tay’s oeuvre began with early documentations of a vanishing Singapore with geometric kelong and kampung in the 1960s, realistic paintings of Chinatown in the 1980s and lastly, experimentations with bright colours. His works also sought to capture scenes of Southeast Asian culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eAcquired from Eagle’s Eye Art Gallery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e(Photographed in April 2024)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art Again","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51647158223213,"sku":"SQ1531556","price":2900.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4159\/2941\/files\/DSC00789.jpg?v=1734086598"},{"product_id":"tay-bak-koi-untitled-golden-harvest-1989","title":"Tay Bak Koi, Untitled (Golden Harvest), 1989","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWatercolour and gouache on paper\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e60.5 x 60 cm\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good, with one mould spot on the lower right corner.\u003cbr\u003eConservation report from PIA Studios available.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e-\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTay Bak Koi (Singaporean, 1939–2003\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e studied under Cheong Soo Pieng (Chinese, 1917–1983) at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957. During his three-year course, he supported himself by selling crabs at a market stall while experimenting with oils and watercolours. Frustrated by the structural rigidity and formal instructional methods of art academia, he was determined to pursue a lifelong career in the arts but recognised the need to cultivate a distinctive style to establish himself as an artist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eTay’s early works captured Singapore’s vanishing landscapes, portraying geometric kelongs and kampongs with a keen sensitivity to texture. His restrained use of colour acted as a form of punctuation, emphasising contrast and meaning within his compositions. Blending fantasy and reality, his art often reimagined urban landscapes through abstraction. A master of elimination and distortion, Tay distilled complex forms to their essence, developing a visual language that was both striking and deeply introspective.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe owner, an art teacher, befriended the artist and purchased several of their works in the late 1980s. The collection reflects the discerning choices of someone trained in art and experienced in teaching it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePurchased directly from the artist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e(Photographed in August 2025)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art Again","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52134006358381,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4159\/2941\/files\/14-TayBakKoi-GoldenHarvest.jpg?v=1755254460"},{"product_id":"tay-bak-koi-untitled-frost-undated","title":"Tay Bak Koi, Untitled (Frost), Undated","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGouache on paper\u003cbr\u003e59 x 59 cm (visible), 77 x 77 x 2.5 cm (framed)\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good, with foxing around the perimeter of the work.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e-\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTay Bak Koi (Singaporean, 1939–2003\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e studied under Cheong Soo Pieng (Chinese, 1917–1983) at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957. During his three-year course, he supported himself by selling crabs at a market stall while experimenting with oils and watercolours. Frustrated by the structural rigidity and formal instructional methods of art academia, he was determined to pursue a lifelong career in the arts but recognised the need to cultivate a distinctive style to establish himself as an artist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eTay’s early works captured Singapore’s vanishing landscapes, portraying geometric kelongs and kampongs with a keen sensitivity to texture. His restrained use of colour acted as a form of punctuation, emphasising contrast and meaning within his compositions. Blending fantasy and reality, his art often reimagined urban landscapes through abstraction. A master of elimination and distortion, Tay distilled complex forms to their essence, developing a visual language that was both striking and deeply introspective.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e(Photographed in January 2026)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art Again","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52951220715885,"sku":null,"price":6800.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4159\/2941\/files\/8-2-DSC03673.jpg?v=1769087067"},{"product_id":"tay-bak-koi-returning-home","title":"Tay Bak Koi, Returning Home, Undated","description":"\u003cp\u003eWatercolour on paper\u003cbr\u003e88 x 62 cm (unframed) \u003cbr\u003eCondition: Very good\u003cbr\u003eCertificate of Authenticity from the Estate of Tay Bak Koi available.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e-\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTay Bak Koi (Singaporean, 1939–2003\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e studied under Cheong Soo Pieng (Chinese, 1917–1983) at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957. During his three-year course, he supported himself by selling crabs at a market stall while experimenting with oils and watercolours. Frustrated by the structural rigidity and formal instructional methods of art academia, he was determined to pursue a lifelong career in the arts but recognised the need to cultivate a distinctive style to establish himself as an artist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eTay’s early works captured Singapore’s vanishing landscapes, portraying geometric kelongs and kampongs with a keen sensitivity to texture. His restrained use of colour acted as a form of punctuation, emphasising contrast and meaning within his compositions. Blending fantasy and reality, his art often reimagined urban landscapes through abstraction. A master of elimination and distortion, Tay distilled complex forms to their essence, developing a visual language that was both striking and deeply introspective.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e(Photographed in April 2026)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art Again","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53264929587565,"sku":null,"price":18000.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4159\/2941\/files\/2-_194_ReturingHome_Undated_88x61_1.jpg?v=1777380330"},{"product_id":"tay-bak-koi-kampong-1970","title":"Tay Bak Koi, Kampong, 1970","description":"\u003cp\u003eWatercolour on paper\u003cbr\u003e48 x 43 cm (unframed) \u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good, with foxing and some stains along the perimeter of the work.\u003cbr\u003eCertificate of Authenticity from the Estate of Tay Bak Koi available.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e-\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTay Bak Koi (Singaporean, 1939–2003\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e studied under Cheong Soo Pieng (Chinese, 1917–1983) at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957. During his three-year course, he supported himself by selling crabs at a market stall while experimenting with oils and watercolours. Frustrated by the structural rigidity and formal instructional methods of art academia, he was determined to pursue a lifelong career in the arts but recognised the need to cultivate a distinctive style to establish himself as an artist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eTay’s early works captured Singapore’s vanishing landscapes, portraying geometric kelongs and kampongs with a keen sensitivity to texture. His restrained use of colour acted as a form of punctuation, emphasising contrast and meaning within his compositions. Blending fantasy and reality, his art often reimagined urban landscapes through abstraction. A master of elimination and distortion, Tay distilled complex forms to their essence, developing a visual language that was both striking and deeply introspective.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e(Photographed in April 2026)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art Again","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53284890378605,"sku":null,"price":9000.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4159\/2941\/files\/2-_73_Kampong_1970_48x43_1db34f52-f5e5-4f51-b377-1957589ce8f4.jpg?v=1777902529"},{"product_id":"tay-bak-koi-at-the-market-undated","title":"Tay Bak Koi, At the Market, Undated","description":"\u003cp\u003eWatercolour on paper\u003cbr\u003e40 x 45 cm (unframed) \u003cbr\u003eCondition: Very good\u003cbr\u003eCertificate of Authenticity from the Estate of Tay Bak Koi available.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e-\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTay Bak Koi (Singaporean, 1939–2003\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e studied under Cheong Soo Pieng (Chinese, 1917–1983) at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957. During his three-year course, he supported himself by selling crabs at a market stall while experimenting with oils and watercolours. Frustrated by the structural rigidity and formal instructional methods of art academia, he was determined to pursue a lifelong career in the arts but recognised the need to cultivate a distinctive style to establish himself as an artist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eTay’s early works captured Singapore’s vanishing landscapes, portraying geometric kelongs and kampongs with a keen sensitivity to texture. His restrained use of colour acted as a form of punctuation, emphasising contrast and meaning within his compositions. Blending fantasy and reality, his art often reimagined urban landscapes through abstraction. A master of elimination and distortion, Tay distilled complex forms to their essence, developing a visual language that was both striking and deeply introspective.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e(Photographed in April 2026)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art Again","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53309425811821,"sku":null,"price":9000.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4159\/2941\/files\/2-_171_AttheMarket_Undated_40x45_1.jpg?v=1778500056"},{"product_id":"tay-bak-koi-dwelling-place-undated","title":"Tay Bak Koi, Dwelling Place, Undated","description":"\u003cp\u003eOil on canvas\u003cbr\u003e23.5 x 31 cm (framed)\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Very good\u003cbr\u003eCertificate of Authenticity from the Estate of Tay Bak Koi available.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e-\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTay Bak Koi (Singaporean, 1939–2003\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e studied under Cheong Soo Pieng (Chinese, 1917–1983) at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957. During his three-year course, he supported himself by selling crabs at a market stall while experimenting with oils and watercolours. Frustrated by the structural rigidity and formal instructional methods of art academia, he was determined to pursue a lifelong career in the arts but recognised the need to cultivate a distinctive style to establish himself as an artist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eTay’s early works captured Singapore’s vanishing landscapes, portraying geometric kelongs and kampongs with a keen sensitivity to texture. His restrained use of colour acted as a form of punctuation, emphasising contrast and meaning within his compositions. Blending fantasy and reality, his art often reimagined urban landscapes through abstraction. A master of elimination and distortion, Tay distilled complex forms to their essence, developing a visual language that was both striking and deeply introspective.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e(Photographed in May 2026)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art Again","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53397745828205,"sku":null,"price":10000.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4159\/2941\/files\/2-image00001_2.jpg?v=1780380591"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4159\/2941\/collections\/Tay_Bak_Koi.png?v=1778729370","url":"https:\/\/artagain.co\/collections\/tay-bak-koi.oembed","provider":"Art Again","version":"1.0","type":"link"}