In the 60s and 70s, Tan Choh Tee started to do outdoor observational sketching. He painted Singapore street scenes like Chinatown, Amoy Street, Little India and other old shophouses and old streets. Many of the old streets and buildings he painted have now been renovated or demolished. His paintings have therefore become historical records of the city, leaving a physical momento for Singaporeans to reminisce with. He also often travelled aboard to Bali, Phuket, Malacca, India, Vietnam, Myanmar, Shantou, Lijiang and other places to sketch and paint the old streets and local customs.
Tan Choh Tee specialises in landscape and observational oil paintings. His paintings are rich in color and expressive in texture. His paintings have a simple yet natural vibe. He often paints with a knife, with big colour blocks and powerful brush strokes, each stroke showing a strong sense of three-dimensionality and texture. Tan Choh Tee is exceptionally good at observational sketching; he likes to go knee deep in nature and paint, expressing all his intricate feelings for nature with his paint brush. Most of Tan Choh Tee’s works are observational paintings, but these are not simple renditions. His works can capture details in colour contrast and change of light and shade in the landscape; the trees, flowers and plants swaying in the wind, and cleverly outline the figures in the landscape.
In the midst of the pandemic, Tan Choh Tee painted many still life subjects: garlic, mangosteen, tomatoes, radishes, bottles and jars laying around at home, etc. Due to health and safety measures, he was unable to go out to paint on the ground. Nevertheless, he used this special period to complete dozens of still life oil paintings in his studio. “Still Lifes by Tan Choh Tee” was a solo exhibition held in 2020 and exhibited close to 30 of his still life paintings. His works are well received by local collectors since they believe that it is worth collecting and have investment value.
Iola Liu
Asia Art Collective Upcoming exhibition: 1-2 November 2025
From 31 October to 2 November 2025, collectors and art enthusiasts will have an exclusive opportunity to experience Yeo Hoe Koon’s legacy at The Private Art Sale 2:
📍 Location: Artspace @ Helutrans, 39 Keppel Road, #01-05, Singapore
📅 Dates: 31 October 4pm-8pm (VIP Preview) | 1-2 November 10am-8pm (Public Viewing)
⏰ Time: 11:00am – 8:00pm daily
This highly anticipated event will present more than 100 carefully curated artworks offered at 20%–80% below current market prices, providing collectors with a rare chance to obtain meaningful pieces of Singapore’s art history while engaging deeply with the artist’s legacy.
For years, Asia Art Collective is an art advisory and consultancy specialised in Singaporean and Asian modern and contemporary art. Professional art services include providing clients with art advice on artwork purchase and sale, artwork valuation and assessment, art acquisition and collection planning, art sale and brokerage, as well as art commissioning and artwork sourcing. Asia Art Collective seeks to promote a culture of art appreciation and art acquisition and collection for Singapore art, and modern and contemporary Asian art through its diverse and rotating art exhibitions and art appreciation programmes, courses and talks. Enquire with Asia Art Collective for advice and support on your art-collecting journey.
Contact Curator for artwork consultancy: Iola Liu (90056716), (92398226)