Art Collection Showing Resilience To Pandemic

Achieving RM2.75 million in 3.5-hour of art auction, all through zero floor bidding.

Encouraged by the results despite the pandemic, Director of Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers Sim Polenn.

Henry Butcher Malaysian and Southeast Asian Art Auction recorded RM2.75 million sale in just three-and-a-half-hour on 15 November 2020. Due to the Conditional Movement Control

Order (CMCO), no floor bidding took place to observe the SOP (Standard

Operating Procedures). In its place were telephone, online and absentee biddings.

“The result is encouraging, considering the current sluggish economic atmosphere, and with no floor bidding being carried out. We sincerely appreciate the continuous support from the buyers and art collectors,” said Sim Polenn, Director of Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers.

The top-selling masterpiece is one painted by Datuk Ibrahim Hussein in 1980, titled Figures On The Beach, which sold for RM588,000. Datuk Ibrahim brilliantly executed this work, leaving the upper part of the painting in a simple plain background colour, which made the concentrated linear compositions at the centre and bottom part stand out, with sinuous rhythm and decorative veneer that mesmerised the viewers.

At the Henry Butcher Art Auction August 2020 edition, Datuk Ibrahim Hussein’s Calama Desert was sold at RM918,000, the highest public auction record set by the artist in the local art auction scene. Abdul Latiff Mohidin’s 1990s Rimba was sold for RM201,600 while another early abstract artwork painted by Datuk Ibrahim Hussein in 1967, Untitled, oil on jute was sold for RM134,400.

On the front cover of the auction catalogue was also the top selling masterpiece by Datuk Ibrahim Hussein; Lot 148, Ibrahim Hussein, Datuk (b. Kedah, 1936 - d. Kuala Lumpur, 2009) Figures On The Beach, 1980, sold for RM588,000.

Lot 82, Abdul Latiff Mohidin (b. Negeri Sembilan, 1941), Rimba, c. 1990s, sold for RM201,600.

Awang Damit Ahmad’s Senja Kelabu from the famous Essence Of Culture (E.O.C) Series achieved RM87,360 while a beautiful piece by Dato’ Sharifah Fatimah Syed Zubir illustrates segments of gorgeously mixed prismatic colours, titled Reflection VI, 1995 was sold in an intense bidding between the telephone bidders for RM73,920. Blue, green, red and yellow colours used harmoniously composed a soothing picture.

Other notable paintings that fetched a respectable value include Jolly Koh’s Palm, painted in 2005 sold for RM61,600 and a rare watercolour piece painted by Abdullah Ariff in 1956 titled The Sudden Monsoon Downpour sold for RM56,000. Top quality artworks continue to grab the attention of the bidders.

Lot 81 Ibrahim Hussein, Datuk (b. Kedah, 1936 - d. Kuala Lumpur, 2009) Untitled, 1967, sold for RM134,400.

Lot 83, Awang Damit Ahmad (b. Sabah, 1956) Essence Of Culture (E.O.C) — ‘Senja Kelabu’, 1994, sold for RM87,360.

Lot 86, Sharifah Fatimah Syed Zubir, Dato’ (b. Kedah, 1948) Reflection VI, 1995, sold for RM73,920. Lot 124, Tay Bak Koi (b. Singapore, 1939 - d. 2005) Untitled, 1999, sold for RM89,600.

Collectors also took the opportunity to acquire pieces from Southeast Asian artists such as Tay Bak Koi’s 1999 painting concluded at RM89,600 while Ong Kim Seng’s watercolour piece from the Kathmandu Series sold for RM20,160. Myanmar senior artist U Lun Gywe’s Buffaloes also sold for RM20,160.

“In the span of a decade, Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers recorded art auction sales of RM58 million, selling more than 2,500 pieces of artworks, in which 90% are Malaysian art. We are glad that this auction reflects a widening of interest for works from the region, and participation of new and young collectors,” added Sim Polenn.

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