Rhythm of Water, Light, and Wind

Commenting on her fascination with water, the artist remarked: “I think of fluctuating light: when you look at water, it’s never the same. It’s changing all the time”. The piece Irama Lagun, or “rhythm of the lagoon” in Malay, conveys this. Here, Eng Tow’s impressions of light playing on the surface of water are expressed on a cloth relief. If you move to the left and right, the warm dappled hues appear to merge into cooler ones, inviting different readings depending on the perspective. This evokes the ephemeral, changing impressions one has when looking at a calm lagoon. This lyrical piece is an example of the distinctive “cloth reliefs”, which Eng Tow was especially known for in the first decade and a half of her career. To construct these works, she would manipulate a flat sheet of cloth through stitching folds and pleats, thereby creating greater visual interest and activating the surface. Two more pieces done in 1982, Morning Rain over Bali and Images of Bali, show the artist using drawing and colour expressively on pleated cloth surfaces. In Morning Rain over Bali, rapid streaks of various hues sweep diagonally across equidistant folds, evoking the energy and force of a heavy downpour. These works were inspired by Eng’s impressions of her first trip to Bali, where she was deeply inspired by the beauty of the landscape, with its rich tropical rainforests and lush paddy fields. You can see more of Eng Tow’s cloth reliefs along this side of the room. When you are done, find your way to the artwork titled Gazing into the Temple Pond. Your tour will continue there.