Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès, By the Lotus Pond. Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong Evening Sale.
Southeast Asian art is a mosaic of styles and influences, each piece a testament to the region’s diverse cultural legacy. The Modern & Contemporary Art auctions at Phillips Hong Kong bring this richness to life, showcasing the enduring legacies of figurative and modernist pioneers, the layered nuances of abstraction, and the bold expressions of today’s contemporary talents.
From Le Mayeur’s vivid depictions of Bali, to Lê Phổ’s harmonious fusion of East and West, each work forms part of a broader narrative, weaving together the region’s rich and multifaceted artistic legacy.
Tradition meets Modernity
Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès, By the Lotus Pond. Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong Evening Sale.
Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès — a Belgian painter who found his muse in Bali in the 1930s — made a significant mark on Southeast Asian art through his Impressionist interpretation of Balinese culture. By the Lotus Pond is a quintessential example of his work, capturing the serene beauty of Bali’s landscapes and people. It portrays the lotus pond in the home he shared with his wife and muse, the Balinese dancer Ni Pollok.
Le Mayeur arrived in Bali in 1932, intending to stay only briefly. However, he was so captivated by the island’s lush beauty and its intricate blend of nature and tradition that he spent the remainder of his life there, as it offered a stark contrast to the industrialized Western world.
Bali was Le Mayeur’s creative sanctuary, and his personal blend of Western Impressionist techniques with local subjects brought Balinese culture to an international audience. His fascination with tropical light and the rhythm of daily life shines through in the still waters of the pond seen in this work. The painting, alive with vibrant hues of pink, green, and earthy tones, portrays Balinese women engaged in quiet, graceful activities amidst lush tropical foliage. As a luminist, Le Mayeur’s masterful depiction of light and movement — a hallmark of his style — reflects a deep connection to his surroundings and a reverence for his adopted culture.
Lê Phổ, La Toilette, circa 1938–1939. Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong Evening Sale.
A leading figure in Vietnamese Modernism, Lê Phổ bridged Vietnam’s traditional artistry with the modernist techniques he encountered in Paris. Feminine Morning Rituals exemplifies his unique ability to harmonize Eastern and Western aesthetics.
Rendered in gouache and ink on silk, the painting captures an intimate moment between two women engaged in a morning routine. One, seated with a vermillion cosmetic box in hand, tilts her head gracefully in a balletic pose. Behind her, another figure clad in a luminous yellow áo dài attends to her hair. The composition exudes quiet elegance, offering a timeless glimpse of tradition poised delicately at the cusp of modernity.
Lê Phổ, who trained at the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine in Hanoi and later built his career in Paris, became a cultural ambassador for Vietnam. His works reflect a profound connection to his heritage, evident in the áo dài worn by his subjects, while also revealing the influence of European Modernism. The flattened perspective, intricate patterns, and muted tones lend the scene an ethereal quality, embodying the cultural and artistic duality that defines his oeuvre.
Left: Lee Man Fong, Portrait of a Seated Lady. Right: Lee Man Fong, Portrait of a Seated Woman. Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong Day Sale.
Born in China, raised in Southeast Asia, and trained in the Netherlands, Lee Man Fong exemplifies this fusion of diverse cultural identities. His works — often centered on the serene rural life of Indonesia — are characterized by muted tones and tranquil atmospheres, reflecting the idyllic simplicity of his subjects. At the same time, his compositions carry a distinctly Chinese sensibility, blending his heritage with the influences of his adopted cultures.
This transcultural synthesis is exquisitely captured in Portrait of a Seated Lady and Portrait of a Seated Woman. Both works depict indigenous Indonesian women seated against rustic backdrops, presented in vertical compositions reminiscent of traditional Chinese painting. The delicate interplay of light and softly saturated tree branches evokes a meditative quality, saluting Lee’s Chinese roots. Yet, the figures’ physical realism, achieved through oil paint and the nuanced contrast of light and shadow, reflects the influence of Dutch Old Masters, seamlessly integrating Western techniques with Eastern aesthetics.
Lee’s ability to merge these artistic traditions results in deeply evocative works that transcend cultural boundaries. His portraits are not merely visual representations but poetic reflections of a utopian rural life, capturing the essence of Southeast Asia through a multicultural lens.
Abstract Explorations
Awang Damit Ahmad, Perjalanan Utara: Kinkir Pun Mula Sepi (A Journey to the North: Even the Beginning of All Things Start with Silence), 2010. Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong Day Sale.
Awang Damit Ahmad is a prominent voice in Malaysian abstract art whose works are deeply intertwined with the socio-cultural fabric of Southeast Asia. Perjalanan Utara, part of his acclaimed Iraga series, explores themes of nature, memory, and identity. Drawing from his upbringing in a coastal fishing village, the painting captures the elemental forces of Malaysia’s coastal life. Bold black strokes and a palette of blues and reds evoke the turbulence of monsoonal storms, which disrupt daily rhythms and shape the lives of those who depend on the sea near the Tropic of Cancer. Layered textures and abstracted forms imbue the work with emotions, reflecting the artist’s ability to transform personal experiences into universal narratives.
Ahmad’s practice exemplifies the fusion of Abstract Expressionism with local narratives, a defining hallmark of his oeuvre. While abstract in form, his works echo the rhythms of Southeast Asia’s landscapes and cultural traditions, transforming personal memories and national identity into a universal visual language. This unique synthesis places him as a central figure in Malaysia’s post-colonial artistic evolution.
Marking Awang Damit Ahmad’s debut at Phillips, this painting is a milestone in the global recognition of his art. Highly sought after, his works are part of prestigious collections, including the National Visual Arts Gallery of Malaysia, the Central Bank of Malaysia, and Petronas Gallery in Kuala Lumpur.
Cheong Soo Pieng, Landscape, 1977. Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong Day Sale.
Cheong Soo Pieng, a pioneering figure in Singaporean Modern art, exemplifies the fusion of diverse cultural and artistic influences. Upon relocating to Singapore in 1946, Cheong melded his training in traditional Chinese ink and Western oil painting with the Southeast Asian milieu, spearheading the iconic Nanyang style. His early works elegantly depicted Malayan and Balinese subjects, balancing the conventions of Eastern and Western art. However, Cheong's creative journey extended far beyond figuration. Following his transformative European travels in the 1960s, he embarked on a bold exploration of abstraction, redefining his artistic practice.
Created in 1977, Landscape marks a significant phase in Cheong’s abstractionist oeuvre. The composition features clusters of quadrilateral shapes against a monochromatic blue backdrop, evoking the urban rhythms of a rapidly modernizing Singapore. By reinterpreting industrial forms and translating their materiality into painterly elements, Cheong crafts a compelling vision of an evolving urban landscape. The geometric order is softened by varying shades of white and grey, creating a sense of balance and rhythm that invites contemplation.
Cheong’s multifaceted exploration of media, themes, and styles underscores his enduring legacy as a cultural innovator. His works traverse the boundaries between tradition and modernity, East and West, figuration and abstraction. Today, his contributions are celebrated in major collections and exhibitions.
Contemporary Voices
Roby Dwi Antono, Little Girl With Crustacean's Claw, 2023. Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong Day Sale.
Born in 1990 in Indonesia, Roby Dwi Antono is a self-taught artist who has rapidly gained international recognition for his distinctive visual language. Seamlessly blending fantastical imagery with Surrealist and Renaissance influences, his works evoke a sense of wonder that is both nostalgic and profoundly introspective.
Little Girl With Crustacean’s Claw shows Roby’s signature style, featuring starry-eyed children and mythological creatures in a dreamlike tableau. Rendered in warm, dusky tones, the painting captures a whimsical yet contemplative mood, weaving narratives that are both enigmatic and deeply personal. Drawing from his Indonesian heritage, Antono creates works that resonate with universal themes, bridging cultural specificity and global appeal.
Antono’s storytelling approach and Surrealist vision have redefined the boundaries of Southeast Asian contemporary art while positioning him firmly within a global artistic context. His works are highly sought after by collectors and have been showcased internationally, including at exhibitions in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Frankfurt, Melbourne, and Art Basel Hong Kong in 2021.
Kitti Narod, No. 1, 2021. Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong Day Sale.
When I see human beings, I sympathize; we all share the same happiness and sadness. It’s also about equality and space. Space means opportunity; we all need to share it equally, even if it sounds utopian. —Kitti Narod
Thai artist Kitti Narod captures the essence of human connection in his art, celebrating the shared joys and universal emotions that bind us all. His works reflect a utopian vision in which space becomes a metaphor for opportunity — something to be shared equally, transcending societal barriers.
No. 1 exemplifies Kitti’s lighthearted yet meaningful approach, depicting vibrant, joyous scenes of communal life through a colourful and dynamic palette. Rather than moralizing, his compositions evoke an effortless optimism, inviting viewers to rediscover the simple pleasures of coexistence and the unifying bonds of humanity.
Though rooted in Thai traditions and values, Kitti’s art resonates universally, embodying the spirit of inclusivity and harmony that defines the contemporary Southeast Asian art narrative.
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