Born in 1946 in Singapore, Chong Fah Cheong is regarded as one of Singapore’s pioneer sculptors. A teacher by training, Chong is a graduate from the University of Singapore, and has a Diploma in Curriculum Studies in Art and Design from the City of Birmingham Polytechnic, United Kingdom. He taught art in Singapore schools before becoming a professional artist in 1978. In 1989, Chong moved to Canada where he currently lives and works but makes regular trips back to Singapore to engage with the local art scene and participate in exhibitions.An award winning entry at the 1988 IBM Art Award Exhibition, this work focuses on shoes left on the steps by their owners who are inside the house celebrating their aunt’s birthday. Intimate and familiar, the work invites one to reflect on familial relationships within our local social and cultural environment. Chong began his sculpting career working in wood but has since explored other materials such as stone and metal.
