007
b. China, 1913 - d. 1984
Khaw Sia
White Orchid II
1981
signed ‘K. SIA 1981’ bottom left, with Chinese seal
watercolour on paper
72 x 27cm
Provenance
Private collection, Kuala Lumpur.
Estimate
RM 12,000 – 15,000
Price Realised
RM 13,200
LITERATURE
Penang Artists 1920’s – 1990’s (The Art Gallery, Editions: 1990, 1992. By Dr Tan Chee Khuan)
Khaw Sia was born in China and migrated to Penang in 1937. On offer is a twin rendition of white orchids of the same size, to be sold separately. Khaw Sia started painting orchids after his trips to Thailand, Taiwan and Japan in 1961 and had become synonymous with orchid paintings since. He had also developed a keen interest in cultivating the man-mediated flowers which could be genetically modified to create shapes, textures and patterns of immense beauty, but white being the symbol of purity does have its own power and appeal.
