Bui Xuan Phai’s paintings to go under hammer in Singapore

The « Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Art » session of Singaporean auctioneer Larasati will feature three paintings from Vietnamese painter Bui Xuan Phai.

« Bien » (Sea), « Hai Dien Vien Cheo Cam Quat » (Two Cheo Actors With Fans), and « Pho Voi Nguoi Di Xe dap Va Xe Bo » (Street Scene With Cyclist And Bull-cart) are three oil on cardboard paintings set to go under the hammer on June 17.

They are respectively estimated at up to $13,500, $12,750, and $10,500.

Phai’s work has been offered at auction multiple times, with realized prices ranging from $600 to $207,770. The record price for his paintings at auction is $207,770 for « Nha » (Houses), sold at Christie’s Hong Kong earlier this year. `

Bui Xuan Phai (1921 – 1988) was a Vietnamese painter of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, who created a unique style called « Pho Phai » (Phai’s street). The artist was one of the last generations of Indochina Fine Arts College painters, along with Nguyen Sang, Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Duong Bich Lien, who had a great influence on the development of modern Vietnamese art.

By Long Nguyen – VnExpress.net – June 14, 2021