Teng Jee Hum, In Bondage, 2003

Acrylic on canvas laid on board
77 x 61 cm 
Condition: Very good

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Teng Jee Hum spent his early career as a fund manager, trading Asian equities and later commodities, before turning to collecting and, eventually, making. Self-taught, he works by laying down unplanned brushstrokes and paint washes, then extracting figures and forms through observation — a practice of pareidolia and pattern recognition.

His two Nudes take that method to opposite ends of restraint: one built from loose, saturated marks that resolve into a seated figure seen from behind, in In Bondage, 2003, while the other, Ooh my back hurts, 2000, is pared down to a single contour line. Teng has spent decades on the other side of this — building a collection, deciding what goes on view. Here, it's his own work in the room, out into view.

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Teng Jee Hum (Singaporean, b. unknown) is a self-taught artist, collector, and author whose practice explores themes of Singapore’s identity, history, and social development. Working across painting, sculpture, and works on paper, he often reflects on personal memories and national narratives, particularly through his interpretations of Singapore’s transformation and the legacy of its founding years. His works combine figurative imagery, symbolism, and text to examine the relationship between individual experience and collective memory.

Beyond his artistic practice, Teng is also recognised as the founder of The Teng Collection, which focuses on modern and contemporary Asian art, and as the author of publications including Beyond ISMS (1999) and Godsmacked (2016). Through both collecting and creating, he has contributed to discussions surrounding art, cultural identity, and the role of visual narratives in understanding Singapore’s history.

(Photographed in June 2026)

Acrylic on canvas laid on board
77 x 61 cm 
Condition: Very good

-

Teng Jee Hum spent his early career as a fund manager, trading Asian equities and later commodities, before turning to collecting and, eventually, making. Self-taught, he works by laying down unplanned brushstrokes and paint washes, then extracting figures and forms through observation — a practice of pareidolia and pattern recognition.

His two Nudes take that method to opposite ends of restraint: one built from loose, saturated marks that resolve into a seated figure seen from behind, in In Bondage, 2003, while the other, Ooh my back hurts, 2000, is pared down to a single contour line. Teng has spent decades on the other side of this — building a collection, deciding what goes on view. Here, it's his own work in the room, out into view.

-

Teng Jee Hum (Singaporean, b. unknown) is a self-taught artist, collector, and author whose practice explores themes of Singapore’s identity, history, and social development. Working across painting, sculpture, and works on paper, he often reflects on personal memories and national narratives, particularly through his interpretations of Singapore’s transformation and the legacy of its founding years. His works combine figurative imagery, symbolism, and text to examine the relationship between individual experience and collective memory.

Beyond his artistic practice, Teng is also recognised as the founder of The Teng Collection, which focuses on modern and contemporary Asian art, and as the author of publications including Beyond ISMS (1999) and Godsmacked (2016). Through both collecting and creating, he has contributed to discussions surrounding art, cultural identity, and the role of visual narratives in understanding Singapore’s history.

(Photographed in June 2026)

Artwork located in: Singapore