Image size: H39.4 x W30.0 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. 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.‘(Untitled) Wayang Puppets’ features characters in a typical outdoor ‘wayang’ performance–a popular form of entertainment in early Singapore. Besides reading the work through the lens of history or a social-cultural perspective, this drawing can also be seen as an extension of Cheong’s figurative pursuits. His acute observation skills are seen in the details of the characters’ costumes.
