When the hammer falls
Breathtaking art on the auction block could be yours to own, writes Elena Koshy
“BEAUTY isn’t important. What’s better are the common things other people don’t see,” declared artist Dzulkifli Buyong. Considered as an anak berbakat luar biasa or an art prodigy, he had already gained his first set of accolades by winning the first three prizes for the Young Friends Art Competition at the age of 14. His paintings are a documentation of his childhood memories and surroundings, depicting typical and common tropes based on his own experiences.
Dzulkifli’s vibrant works will be showcased at the upcoming Malaysian & Southeast Asian Art auction organised by Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers (HBAA) at Galeri Prima, Bangsar. “We’re paying tribute to this artist for this upcoming auction,” says Polenn Sim, HBAA director. “He was a genius artist who passed away untimely 15 years ago from an asthma attack. We’ve specially chosen 15 pieces of his works.”
Big names continue to hold sway in this upcoming auction, promises Sim, with works by national art laureate Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal, Ahmad Zakii Anwar, Amron Omar, Datuk Chuah Thean Teng, Raphael Scott Abeng and Chang Fee Ming.
Any experienced auction buyer will tell you this: auctions can be great places to buy amazing artworks. Buyers can come across great bargains if they’re skilled in researching and setting their limits before bidding. Auction houses offer good quality art, fresh from estates and private collections. They also have an extensive network of corporations, businesses, museums and private collectors who possess important pieces of artwork — which add to the fascinating array of pieces, sometimes rarely seen in the market but included in their public sales.
In the case of Dzulkfli Buyong, Sim shows me his remarkable self-portraits in watercolour, saying: “This will be the first time buyers will have the opportunity to acquire his art, including these rare self-portraits done in 1971 which has never been showcased before.”
Another highlight of the auction is the somewhat deeply spiritual piece entitled Mimpi by Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal who had popularised abstract expressionism in Malaysia and who’s also known as the father of modern art in this nation. His works are often coated with his iconic technicolour palette of expressionist strokes hidden with a wealth of symbolism and influenced by his
immediate surroundings. Among his most celebrated series is Gunung Ledang ,an imagery of the mythical Mount Ophir located in his hometown as well as the significance it holds for him.
“We’re starting the bid for this artwork at RM170,000 which is a really, really very good price,” shares Sim, adding: “Many of Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal’s works have received acclaim both locally and internationally, and are highly sought after.”
It’s advisable to try to preview and attend as many auction house previews as you can — prior to actually bidding for a piece. With 200 lots showcased for this auction, there’s plenty to see and select from. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to choose a favourite from the dazzling array of artwork.
Artist Amron Omar’s repertoire of silat manoeuvres in his Pertarungan series is one of the most avidly followed in Malaysian art. And his two pieces from this series on display catch my eye. “His works are quite hard to find,” shares Sim, adding: “His realism skills are so intricate, it takes a long time to paint these pieces.”
Wrote academician-critic Redza Piyadasa: “Amron Omar’s realistic, representational renderings of his chosen themes have been enhanced by his accomplished handling of the human anatomy.”
An auction sale entails the excitement of how the auctioneers offer the merchandise one piece at a time and how buyers respond either by raising their paddles or just purely nodding their heads. The rapid pace is exhilarating especially when it leads up to the ‘star pieces’ of the sale. And in this coming auction, there are many.
From Yusof Ghani’s epic visual energy piece called Siri Tari — Dabus to the late Kok Yew Puah’s eye for detail as seen in his Tradition & Change. It has been said that Puah would rather destroy a piece of work he was not fully satisfied with, than exhibit it. His integrity as an artist has left the world with few, but choice, paintings.
“Buy art because you love it,” advises Sim. “If you combine your passion with an informed decision, you’ll have something you love every day and in time, it will go up in value. There’s a popular saying, ‘Appreciate art appreciates’.”
So you want to own a piece of art? There’s much to see and discover at any art auction. The number of dazzling artworks showcased at this auction is no different. There is something intrinsically priceless just waiting to be discovered for any art lover. “It’s important for the collector to feel the magic of discovery,” concludes Sim, smiling.