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Actions Displays	Details Remove from selection Add to selection CollectionSouth & Southeast Asian Collection Object numberS1956-0018-001-0 TitleFeeding the chickens CreatorChuah Thean Teng DescriptionFeeding the Chickens is an exemplary early work. Two Malay womenfolk, their figures and posture composed with grace, elegance and balance, are feeding chickens in an idyllic rural setting. The white outline of the figure in the foreground of the painting is a patent reference to the traditional Javanese method of batik which Chuah adhered to - wax application with a canting followed by numerous dye bath immersions to achieve the range of colour in the painting. Michael Sullivan acquired this work, adding to the strength of the Museum's collection in having an exemplary work of modern art that employs a medium indigenous to this part of the world. Chuah Thean Teng’s ‘Feeding the Chickens’ (undated), “is a composition of enduring appeal. Teng, as he is frequently called, is acknowledged as one of the first to employ the technique of batik dying and painting as a medium in art; for this too he is applauded for integrating indigenousness into modern art practices.” (Past, Present , Beyond: Re-nascence of an Art Collection, Page 66)Two Malay maidens are feeding chickens. One has just lifted up the rattan coop to free the fowls while the other is scattering chicken feed with a graceful gesture reminiscent of a joget dance step. The three chicken, two roosters and a hen are treated decoratively in a stylized manner. They help to complement the movement started by the S-shaped front figure. Her tilting head forms an S-curve with her bent left arm and inclined body to convey the movement down to the three fowls and up again to her outstretched right arm. Likewise a similar circular movement's established with the other figure. Batik is a simple but laborious process of decorating cloth with vegetable dyes. A design is drawn on cloth. The parts that are not to be coloured are waxed. The cloth is then dipped into a coloured bath which fills up the unwaxed areas. The cloth is taken out and dried in the sund which also helps to fix the colour. The was is removed and the whole process repeated for a second and subsequent colours. Teng is the first Malaysian artist to adapt this technique to suit the demands of the modern fine art artist. Production placeMalaysia Object categoryPainting MaterialPaint on Cotton, Paint, Cotton, Fabric Dimensions H: 103.5 cm L: 76 cm

CollectionSouth & Southeast Asian Collection

Object numberS1956-0018-001-0

TitleFeeding the chickens

DescriptionFeeding the Chickens is an exemplary early work. Two Malay womenfolk, their figures and posture composed with grace, elegance and balance, are feeding chickens in an idyllic rural setting. The white outline of the figure in the foreground of the painting is a patent reference to the traditional Javanese method of batik which Chuah adhered to - wax application with a canting followed by numerous dye bath immersions to achieve the range of colour in the painting. Michael Sullivan acquired this work, adding to the strength of the Museum's collection in having an exemplary work of modern art that employs a medium indigenous to this part of the world. Chuah Thean Teng’s ‘Feeding the Chickens’ (undated), “is a composition of enduring appeal. Teng, as he is frequently called, is acknowledged as one of the first to employ the technique of batik dying and painting as a medium in art; for this too he is applauded for integrating indigenousness into modern art practices.” (Past, Present , Beyond: Re-nascence of an Art Collection, Page 66)Two Malay maidens are feeding chickens. One has just lifted up the rattan coop to free the fowls while the other is scattering chicken feed with a graceful gesture reminiscent of a joget dance step. The three chicken, two roosters and a hen are treated decoratively in a stylized manner. They help to complement the movement started by the S-shaped front figure. Her tilting head forms an S-curve with her bent left arm and inclined body to convey the movement down to the three fowls and up again to her outstretched right arm. Likewise a similar circular movement's established with the other figure. Batik is a simple but laborious process of decorating cloth with vegetable dyes. A design is drawn on cloth. The parts that are not to be coloured are waxed. The cloth is then dipped into a coloured bath which fills up the unwaxed areas. The cloth is taken out and dried in the sund which also helps to fix the colour. The was is removed and the whole process repeated for a second and subsequent colours. Teng is the first Malaysian artist to adapt this technique to suit the demands of the modern fine art artist.

Production placeMalaysia

Object categoryPainting

MaterialPaint on Cotton, Paint, Cotton, Fabric

Dimensions

H: 103.5 cm
L: 76 cm

Details