Image size: H37.5 x W27.4 cm (Mount)
Cheong Soo Pieng is regarded as a pivotal figure in Singapore’s modern art development. Born in Xiamen (Amoy), China in 1914, he was part of a group of artists that attempted to articulate a style identifiable and pertinent to post-war Singapore, then known collectively with Malaysia, as Malaya. This style, later crystallized as the Nanyang Style, provided a foundation upon which future generations of artists learned and expanded on. Cheong’s art is also closely linked with his travels–the much-heralded Bali trip (1952), Sarawak (1959), London and Europe (1961-1963). These sojourns not only provided inspiration but also consolidated his worldview in art-making.Cheong’s sojourn in Bali with fellow artists was a productive one as he delved into the daily routines of the majority-Hindu community and studied the natural landscape of the island. The successful exhibition ‘Four Artists in Bali’ in Singapore, followed soon upon their return. This drawing shows one of the many artefacts that Cheong could have seen.
