The Edge Auction 2019

In our seventh annual sale of Southeast Asian art, The Edge Auction will feature 105 lots that include significant and major paintings by top names on the regional art scene. The top lot this year is Yusof Ghani’s Assembly 1 (2007, 182cm by 182cm) from his Wajah series. Yusof began painting the series in 2006 and continued to do so for three years. A compilation of works from this series was shown at Galeri Nasional Indonesia in 2010. Assembly 1 is estimated at RM115,000 to RM150,000.

Other veteran Malaysian artists include Jolly Koh, Datuk Tajuddin Ismail and Awang Damit Ahmad. A noteworthy lot is Khoo Sui Hoe’s Lake Merah (2002, oil on canvas, 120cm by 99cm), which was exhibited in retrospective The Painted World of Khoo Sui Hoe at the Penang State Museum and Art Gallery in 2007. The work is also illustrated in the exhibition catalogue on Page 268.

Also a highlight among the Malaysian lots is a bitumen on canvas work by Hamir Soib @ Mohamed titled Kambing Hitam (2009, 198cm by 300cm). The painting is priced at RM80,000 to RM150,000. Hamir was a founding member of the Matahati collective and has been active on the scene since the early 1990s.

Three works of another founding member, Ahmad Shukri Mohamed, will also be going under the hammer. Two of the works are a precursor to a series known as Incubator. Titled Progeny 3 and Progeny 4 (2001, 176cm by 130cm) respectively, the mixed media on canvas paintings feature eggs supposedly belonging to a breed of chicken known as Serama. The works can be seen as a response to the artist’s local environment. He grew up in Kelantan, where pageants for the breed were held frequently. These chickens were seen as a symbol of beauty and much sought after for their extremely protruded chests.

Among the leading contemporary artists, the signature works of Zulkifli Yusoff, Jalaini Abu Hassan and Ahmad Zakii Anwar are being auctioned. A highlight of this segment are three of Chong Siew Ying’s Laugh portraits from 2002. Measuring 40cm by 40cm each and with an estimated price of RM7,500 to RM10,000, the portraits are a rare sight in the Southeast Asian market as they were mostly painted and sold in Europe.

Noor Mahnun Mohamed’s Lanterns (2013, oil on canvas, 182.5cm by 121.5cm) features the portrait of one of her relatives. The girl is seen holding a bouquet of Japanese lantern flowers while a render of Japanese sliding doors is featured in the background. Those in the know will be able to scout out the cryptic Buddhist references in the painting. The work was exhibited for charity at the Nalanda Buddhist Centre in 2013.

For a selection of Nanyang-style works, a rendering in oil of the Penang seascape by veteran artist Datuk Tang Hon Yin tops the list. Boats in the River (c.1960s, 39cm by 70cm) is an uncommon sight as the artist has primarily painted abstracts in recent times. For collectors looking for figurative Nanyang works, three nudes by the late Tew Nai Tong will be up for grabs. Also featured are works by Choh Kiat Song, Tan Choon Ghee, Choo Beng Teong, Alex Leong, Loo Hooi Nam, Eston Tan, Peter Liew, Lee Weng Fatt, Chow Chin Chuan and Choong Kam Kow.

For alternative media, collectors can look to contemporary artists such as Anne Samat for mixed media weaves or Azam Aris for a handstitched work on fabric with gold thread. A metal sculpture by Raja Shahriman will also be going under the hammer.

Anne Samat has exhibited extensively in Malaysia and abroad, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland and the UK. She took part in her first triennial in Yokohama, 2017, and was an exhibiting artist at Taipei Dangdai in January. This also marks the first time her works have appeared in auction.

Azam Aris was offered a residency programme by the HOM Art Trans gallery, at the end of which he was awarded a solo exhibition — the first in his career. Since then, Azam has held four solo exhibitions, the latest being Hidden Beyond Yesterday at the HOM Art Trans gallery in 2018.

Shafiq Nordin’s latest solo exhibition, Aletheia, at G13 (2018) was a smashing hit as his works were sold out. His appearance in the auction with The Beginning (2016, acrylic on canvas) will be a great opportunity for collectors to snag his paintings via the secondary market which is estimated at RM3,500 to RM8,500. Among the other contemporary artists are Najib Bamadhaj, Ismail Awi, Fauzul Yusri and Wong Perng Fey.

Also available at the auction are batik paintings by Ismail Mat Hussin, Datuk Tay Mo Leong, and Lee Long Looi representing the uniquely Southeast Asian medium.

Tan Wei Kheng’s Ethnic Girl (2009, 100cm by 85cm) sees a change from the usual portraits of elderly tribespeople, yet still maintaining the hyper-realistic detail the artist is known for. Other sought-after works include unique compositions by Khalil Ibrahim, Amron Omar, Datuk Sharifah Fatimah Syed Zubir, Rafiee Ghani and Anthonie Chong.

Among the Southeast Asian art, the auction includes works by Indonesia-based artists such as I Wayan Sujana (Suklu), Harlen Kurniawan, Gede Putra Udiyana, Jeihan Sukmantoro and Besta Bestrizal. Two lots from Yunizar, measuring 60cm by 50cm are estimated at RM20,000 to RM22,000. A relatively affordable price for the artist, whose larger works tend to be upwards of RM50,000.

Myanmar is represented by artist-cum-art promoter Myint Soe and veteran artist Win Pe, who once had a career as a filmmaker and radio producer for the BBC. Win Pe is a pioneer of modern art in Burma, who, in his early days, led the charge of pioneering modern art alongside Paw Oo Thet and Khin Maung Yin. Works by Vietnamese artists include that by Bui Huu Hung, Thanh Chuong, whose skill has earned him the title “master of lacquer”, and Nguyen Thanh Binh.

With each lot sorted into specific categories, The Edge Auction 2019 differs from its previous incarnations in a few aspects. The wide price range promises something for everyone, from those who have just stepped into the world of collecting to the more seasoned who already have a clear idea of what they want. This year also sees more young contemporary lots than ever before, indicating the rising careers of such artists.

• The Edge Auction 2019 will be held at DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur on March 17 at 1pm and will also include live online bidding via Invaluable.com. The public preview of the 105 lots will be held at The Edge Galerie in Mont’Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, from March 7 until March 15 (11am to 7pm) and on March 16 (11am to 3pm). The gallery is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Log on to www.theedgegalerie.com to view e-catalogue and to register to bid. For more information, email [email protected] or call Sarah Abu Bakar at 03-77218188.