Hong Kong – Unseen for nearly a century, Prière dans la Forêt, Bali, an early Bali work by celebrated Belgian painter-traveller Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès, will lead Bonhams' Southeast Asian Modern and Contemporary Art sale on 26 September 2025. Painted in 1933, the work is estimated at HK$2,500,000 – $4,500,000 and is fresh to the market.

The work was created during Le Mayeur's early years in Bali, where he settled permanently after an extensive journey across Europe and Asia, drawn by its rich culture and natural beauty. While influenced by Impressionists such as Theo van Rysselberghe, Claude Monet, and Paul Gauguin, Le Mayeur developed a distinctive style characterized by lush, decorative compositions and a vibrant palette. His paintings often evoke the tropical ambiance of Bali and reflect his deep fascination with its culture and traditions, with Prière dans la Forêt, Bali standing as a prime example.

This monumental oil painting depicts a serene moment of Balinese women performing a forest ritual, bathed in dappled light. Le Mayeur's masterful impasto technique, combined with the interplay of emerald and gold hues, brings the scene to life. The rhythmically arranged figures and rich textures create a harmonious composition, evoking the tranquil spirituality of the scene.

Le Mayeur held his first exhibition in Singapore at the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) in 1933. It is thought that Mr Edwin Maurice Glover, who worked for The Straits Times at the time, may have purchased the painting during the exhibition. Later gifted to the parents of its current owners as a symbol of their friendship, Prière dans la Forêt, Bali has remained in the family's collection ever since and is now set to make its auction debut this September.

The sale also features notable Singaporean artists to mark Singapore's 60th Anniversary.

Over the past six decades, Singapore's art scene has evolved from modest beginnings into a dynamic and internationally recognised hub of creativity. Inspired by Chinese ink traditions, Western modernism, and the lived experiences of Southeast Asia, early pioneers developed a distinctive style that have shaped the nation's artistic identity while embracing global influences.

The sale brings together selected works by Cheong Soo Pieng, Chua Ek Kay and Chen Wen Hsi, charting Singapore's artistic evolution. Each painting represents not only individual brilliance but also a chapter in the nation's cultural journey, illustrating its landscapes, people, aspirations and the growth of its art and identity.

Highlights include:

• Cheong Soo Pieng, Maternity, 1965. Estimate: HK$1,600,000 - HK$2,600,000
• Chua Ey Kay, Red Plum, 2007. Estimate: HK$350,000 - HK$550,000
• Chen Wen Hsi, Gibbons at Play. Estimate: HK$20,000 - HK$30,000

The Southeast Asian Modern and Contemporary Art sale also showcases Vietnamese art, featuring works by Tran Luu Hau and Nguyen Trung. In March 2025, Bonhams set new auction records for both artists.