Image size: H39.2 x W31.0 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. A key element of the Nanyang Style was the synthesis of Chinese pictorial elements and the diverse formalistic qualities from the School of Paris.Cheong’s oeuvre spanned across various styles and he was known to constantly experiment with various mediums as well. ‘(Untitled) Surreal Figures’ is one of the few works that saw him delving into Surrealism, a movement that has few practioners here. The dreamlike composition, hints of a few entry points like life and death issues and a spiritual journey.
