ARTISTS
Basoeki Abdullah: Diplomacy and Desire
Basoeki Abdullah's luminous portraits of political figures and attractive women made him one of Southeast Asia's most sought-after painters. The exhibition showcases two significant paintings that the artist donated to Singapore: Labour (gifted to Singapore City Council in 1959) and Struggle for the Re-establishment of the Democracy and the Right for the People (gifted to the National Museum Art Gallery in 1981). Centring on these works, the exhibition explores how this exemplary Southeast Asian artist navigated high society and was attuned to the 鈥済eopoetic鈥� value of his artwork.
Once described as "the Rembrandt of the East," Basoeki (1915鈥�1993) achieved international fame when he won an art contest held for the coronation of Queen Juliana of Amsterdam in 1948. His artworks can be found in national collections across Southeast Asia. The exhibition invites us to consider the 鈥減ower鈥� of art in postcolonial Southeast Asia and to see this prominent portraitist anew.
Basoeki Abdullah's luminous portraits of political figures and attractive women made him one of Southeast Asia's most sought-after painters. The exhibition showcases two significant paintings that the artist donated to Singapore: Labour (gifted to Singapore City Council in 1959) and Struggle for the Re-establishment of the Democracy and the Right for the People (gifted to the National Museum Art Gallery in 1981). Centring on these works, the exhibition explores how this exemplary Southeast Asian artist navigated high society and was attuned to the 鈥済eopoetic鈥� value of his artwork.
Once described as "the Rembrandt of the East," Basoeki (1915鈥�1993) achieved international fame when he won an art contest held for the coronation of Queen Juliana of Amsterdam in 1948. His artworks can be found in national collections across Southeast Asia. The exhibition invites us to consider the 鈥減ower鈥� of art in postcolonial Southeast Asia and to see this prominent portraitist anew.
Artists on show
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