Tay Bak Koi (Singapore, 1939-2005) 'Women in a Kampung' Scene

An ink and colour on paper scene by well known Singaporean artist, Tay Bak Koi, of two women outside a traditional kampung (village). The painting is not dated or titled but is signed clearly to the bottom left, 'Bak Koi'.

You will find a similar, albeit larger work, that was sold at Christies in 2018 which features the same women seated under a tree. Linked here. They are likely from the same series. In terms of dates, I would place this particular watercolour in the 1960s - 1970s during which he was painting many scenes of kelong and kampung; a disappearing Singapore.

A bit about the artist, although there is a lot more biographical information available online.

Tay Bak Koi (b. 1939, Singapore–d. 12 December 2003, Singapore) was an artist renowned for his portrayals of fishing villages, kampung (village) scenes and urban landscapes. He specialised in oil and watercolour. Tay's works have been exhibited extensively in Singapore and other countries, including Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, Germany and the United States. His style tends toward a blend of realism and fantasy, and he was known for his recurring stylised imagery of buffalo. In 1969, he was commissioned to produce some 300 works for the opening of Hilton Hotel in Singapore.