Tay Chee Toh graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1960. He trained under pioneer artists Cheong Soo Pieng and Chen Wen Hsi, both of whom were known to incorporate Western modernist and Chinese aesthetics in their depictions of localised landscapes. This artistic approach was later known as the “Nanyang Style”. Like his mentors, Tay shares a similar penchant for this movement, which are visually apparent in his paintings, woodblock prints and sculpture.
After his sojourn to Sarawak, Malaysia, in the 1960s, Tay began to draw influences from Dayak culture, taking motifs such as Dayak textiles and various decorative surfaces as references for his art. Beyond such motifs, Tay also juxtaposes abstract elements with renderings of human figures, as illustrated in Untitled, which features three Dayak women. By using the wax-resist techniques of dyeing fabrics, Tay employs the traditional method of Batik-making in creating a fresh outlook on a modern work of art.
