SINGAPORE.- Sotheby's Auction of Southeast Asian Paintings held at The Regent Singapore on 7 April 2002, fetched a total sum of S$5,651,558. Auction records are also set by works of Indonesian artist Hendra Gunawan and Indo-European artist Arie Smit.

After competitive bidding in the salesroom packed with active buyers, Walter Spies' Heimkehrende Javaner (Javanese Returning Home) changed hands for S$967,000, the highest price paid among the paintings on offer today. The painting is an unusual work by the artist with a focus on human figure. During his stay in Java, Spies was inspired to record the physical beauty of the local people. The positioning and dominance of the figures in this work emphasize the human narrative and their symbolic associations with the artist's own feelings.



Auction record was set for Hendra Gunawan's Fish Seller when it was sold for S$418,200 after competitive bidding in the room. The painting exemplifies the artist's articulate use of vivid colors and patterns. The stylized depiction of subject matters delineates a deep level of traditional artistic expression in Indonesia.



Antes de la Tempesta by Filipino artist Felix Ressurreccion Hidalgo, sold for S$351,000, was the third most expensive paintings at the auction today. The painting is a romantic depiction of the Norman or Breton coast. The expressive brushwork displays the artist's remarkable bravura and confidence in execution.



Arie Smit's Coral - Temple Block received active bidding in the saleroom. Prices escalated with active bidding in the saleroom and the painting was finally sold for S$100,300 against a pre-sale estimate of S$20,000-28,000. It is also a new auction record for works by the Indo-European artist.



"We are very pleased with the results of the sale today," says Mok Kim Chuan, specialist in charge. "The packed salesroom and active bidding prove that the market is very strong. Competition is keen on pre-war paintings by Indo-European artists and prices realized for a lot of paintings were beyond the high estimates. We are particularly delighted with the fervor of bidders which made the two auction records possible."