Details
CollectionSouth & Southeast Asian Collection
Object numberS1964-0045-001-0
TitleAround the Factory
CreatorChia Yu Chian
DescriptionAround the Factory is a work that demonstrates the nature of Chia Yu Chian's art practive even before his education overseas. The composition bears vitality and life to a subject we might otherwise think of as drab and uninteresting. Bold bright colours depicted on buildings animate a composition that is furthered enlivened by the expressionistic tree trunk and braches framing the landscape view of the factory. Two Malay figures marked by their accoutrements are stepping out of the middle ground, adding a sense of life and activity to the composition. The work does not bear an overridding adherence to any modernist aesthetic expression in particular but still emerges as an interesting view of an aspect of Malayan life.The foreground trees on the left and right frame a cluster of buildings reduced to their basic rectangular shapes. The buildings are parallel tot he picture plane, and are strongly outlined in black. Two figures in Malay costumes emerge from a path in the near centre foreground. This is a semi-abstract painting in bold, bright colours. The arabseque of intertwining branches and leaves of the foreground trees help to animate an otherwise static composition. The artist, Chia Yu Chian was ever searching for new approaches to painting to break away from the conventional mode. He was bold and adventurous and was recognised as a pioneer of Malaysian modern art.
Production placeMalaysia
Production date 1957 - 1957
Object categoryPainting
MaterialOil on board
TechniquePainting
Dimensions
H: 59.5 cm
L: 50 cm
L: 50 cm
