작품 상세

U KO LAY (BURMESE 1920-1982) A Temple Chinthe, circa 1970 watercolor on paper 26.5 x 35.5 cm (10 1/2 x 14 in.) framed dimensions: 36 x 44.5 x 3 cm (14 1/8 x 17 1/2 x 1 1/4 in.) signed lower left PROVENANCE Property of a Gentleman, White Plains RELATED LITERATURE Andrew Ranard, Burmese Painting: A Linear and Lateral History, Chiang Mai, Thailand: Silkworm Books, 2009 (ref. p. 194) Hla Tin Htun, Old Myanmar Paintings in the Collection of U Win, Thavibu Gallery, 2006 (ref. p. 74) LOT NOTES U Ko Lay was a master of Burmese watercolor painting, celebrated for his delicate technique and his sensitive portrayals of Myanmar’s temples, markets, and village life. Born in Mandalay in 1919, he trained under U Ba Nyan, the pioneer of modern Burmese oil painting, and belonged to the generation that helped establish watercolor as a respected medium in postwar Burmese art. Drawing on both British colonial plein-air traditions and indigenous aesthetics, Ko Lay developed a distinctive style characterized by transparent washes, subtle tonal gradations, and finely balanced compositions. His works often depict sacred architecture - the pagodas, monasteries, and guardian figures (chinthes) that punctuate the Burmese landscape - with a keen sense of light and atmosphere. In A Temple Chinthe, Ko Lay captures a quintessential Burmese scene with quiet elegance. The monumental guardian lion rises from the soft haze of morning, surrounded by village stalls and everyday life. The artist’s restrained palette and fluid handling evoke both reverence and familiarity, reflecting his lifelong fascination with the harmony between the spiritual and the ordinary. Ko Lay exhibited widely in Yangon and Mandalay and was for many years an instructor at the State School of Fine Arts. His works remain prized for their lyrical balance of precision and poetry, emblematic of the golden age of Burmese watercolor painting. CONDITION Observed in frame under glass, the work is in good condition, some minor creasing upper left corner, two miniscule tears upper left, small area of foxing upper right. N.B. Condition reports are available upon request. All lots are sold in as-is condition at the time of sale. Please note that any condition statement regarding works of art is given as a courtesy to our clients in order to assist them in assessing the condition. The report is a genuine opinion held by Shapiro Auctions and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The absence of a condition report or a photograph does not preclude the absence of defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. Shapiro Auctions, LLC., including its consultants and agents, shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. Keywords: Burmese painting, Burmese art, Myanmar