#1 Social Realism 2 Paintings

“Picking” – Tay Kok Wee, 1955

I think there is a commotion happening in the painting. The villagers gathered around a man picking up the dead fish. The fish looked trampled as there were tire marks on the ground. Another man in white singlet seemed to be explaining the situation to the villagers. I feel that the relationships between the villagers are quite close to the 2 men as they had their attention focus on them and one schoolboy even came up to help to pick the fish up. I think that the 2 men in singlets were fishmongers, trying to make a business along the roadside, however a vehicle may accidentally drove passed and made a chaos. I envied their relationship with the villagers as I believe they came to the men to show their concern even though they were busy with their activities like buying groceries, taking care of a child or working at nearby stalls.

“Here they come!” – Koeh Sia Yong, 1965

The villagers seemed to be very flustered. Some of them were packing up their items and pointing towards the right direction. One subject that caught my eye was the man in a straw hat trying to push his cart away. His expression shows that something dangerous is coming after the villagers. Probably the policemen or some disaster. I can imagine myself being part of the situation, feeling terrified and lost in the crowd.

#2 Wood/Lino Cuts

“Mr Foo Chee San” – Lim Yew Kuan, 1966

The marks give a fuzzy and noisy atmosphere compared to others with straight and neat lines. The rough texture may inferred as the man is leaning against the railing along a road. Social Realism create emotions using the strokes of brushes while Lino cut create its meaning through the pressure of carve it apply. The cuts on the man were  serious and planned cuttings. There is a clear difference of the subject and the direction of our eyes will follow the body of the subject.

#3 Wu Guanzhong & Chua Ek Kay Galleries

“Sentosa Island” – Anxious & Waiting

A villager wearing a straw hair is waiting for probably a family member to be back from the river. The colour and texture of the river surface shows how anxious the whole lino cut feels.

“A Mountain Village in a Beijing Suburb” – Peaceful

Different shapes and sizes of the houses including an overview of the sky provides a tranquil feeling of a warm village.

“A Silent Figure” – Confused

Thin, thick, slow and quick strokes on the painting gives me indescribable feelings.

“Distant View of a Borobodur Gallery” – Frightened

The enormously tall and ragged buildings make me feel inferior and am afraid of where it may take me.