작품 상세

This vivid rendition of a group of paddy farmers reveals the artist's sentiments towards the diligent and stoic nature of the country folk. It contains a strong design element highlighting the movement of clouds on a breezy day that depicts the richness of the sky, giving a feeling of airiness in a vast, open space. The tranquil atmosphere of the scene is enhanced with gentle reflections in the water and addition of trees painted softly in the distance. Yong Mun Sen's deft brushwork combined with translucent fresh blue hues capture the pristine beauty of the local landscape and humble village folks imbued with a profound sense of unity, making an honest living. The legendary Yong Mun Sen is one of the earliest watercolorists, but one with profound influence and high visibility. He was referred to as the Father of Malaysian Painting by dealer-gallerist-artist-writer-publisher Dato' Dr. Tan Chee Khuan in several of his books on pioneer artists. Born Yong Yen Lang, Mun Sen (the name he adopted in 1922) returned to China briefly (1914) before picking up art on his return to his hometown Sarawak. He had stints in Singapore before settling in Penang (1922), where he set up a photography studio cum gallery. He co-founded the Penang Chinese Art Club and the Singapore Society of Chinese Artists. He was accorded posthumous memorials by Singapore (1966), the National Art Gallery (Kuala Lumpur) and the Penang State Art Gallery (PSAG) in 1972, and the PSAG followed it up with a retrospective in 1999.