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Cheong Soo-Pieng Biography
Cheong Soo Pieng, born in 1917 in Xiamen, Fujian, China, emerged as one of the most innovative and influential artists in Singapore's 20th-century art scene. His journey into the world of art began at a young age when he attended the Xiamen Academy of Fine Arts in 1933, under the tutelage of Lim Hak Tai. His education continued at the Xinhua Academy of Fine Arts in Shanghai, where he was exposed to a blend of Chinese and Western modern art, laying the foundation for his diverse artistic repertoire.
The outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937 disrupted Cheong's education, leading to the destruction of the Xinhua Academy. Despite these challenges, Cheong's passion for art remained undeterred. He returned to Xiamen to teach and held his first solo exhibition of watercolor works in 1942, a medium he chose partly due to the scarcity of oil paints during the war.
In 1946, seeking refuge from conscription in China, Cheong moved to Singapore, where he would leave an indelible mark on the local art scene. He became a lecturer at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), influencing a generation of artists and contributing significantly to the development of Singaporean art. Cheong's early works in Singapore were characterized by empathetic and introspective representations of the peoples, landscapes, and customs of Southeast Asia. His pioneering efforts culminated in the fabled 1952 trip to Bali with fellow pioneer artists, where they consolidated their ideas and presented the 'Nanyang style' – Singapore's first distinct painting style. This style intelligently melded together painting traditions of the East and West, including pictorial and compositional conventions, media, and techniques, creating a body of work that expressed the polyphonic gaze of Southeast Asia's new diasporic residents.
Cheong's artistic journey did not stop with the Nanyang style. A trip to Europe in 1962-63 allowed him to rethink the relationship between his art and ethnicity, leading to an exploration of ink aesthetics. Upon his return, Cheong embarked on a period of discovery, attaining new stylistic innovations in oils and inks. He broadened his visual vocabulary with new media, including batik, collage, cloisonné, metalwork, and found materials, updating his modernist paintings to be in conversation with a new generation of artists. This period was marked by an increased focus on abstraction, moving away from earlier Cubist-inspired modes toward a more idiosyncratic style.
In the late 1970s, Cheong returned to focusing on Southeast Asian subjects, particularly from Malaya, Sarawak, and Bali. He stylized these figures by depicting them with long, exaggerated limbs and almond-shaped eyes, drawing influence from both wayang kulit puppets and modernist artists such as Amedeo Modigliani and Alberto Giacometti. This series became Cheong's most emblematic work.
Cheong Soo Pieng's contributions to the art world were abruptly halted by his sudden death in 1983. However, his legacy continues to be celebrated, and his art remains a cornerstone of Singapore's art history. He is internationally recognized as one of Singapore's most important pioneering artists, successfully blending together various art traditions that converged onto the region. His ink painting, Drying Salted Fish, featured on the back of the Singapore $50 banknote, serves as a testament to his enduring influence and the admiration he continues to receive.
Cheong Soo-Pieng Quotes and
Sales of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
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