Cheong Soo Pieng

Cheong Soo Pieng is lauded as one of Southeast Asia's most important artists emerging from the post-war Chinese diaspora.

Biography of Cheong Soo Pieng

Cheong Soo Pieng, born in 1917 in Xiamen, Fujian, began his art education at the Xiamen Academy of Fine Arts at the age of 16. He furthered his studies at the Sin Hwa Academy of Fine Art in Shanghai, but his education was interrupted by the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–45), leading him to return to Xiamen Academy as both a practising artist and an educator. Due to the scarcity of oil painting resources, Cheong primarily worked with watercolours during this period.

In 1945, Cheong left China, briefly residing in Hong Kong before settling in Singapore in 1946. He took on a teaching role at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts from 1947 to 1961 and became a full-time artist in his late 40s.

His significant contributions to the art and cultural scene in Singapore earned him the Meritorious Service Medal in 1962. Throughout his career, Cheong's works were widely exhibited in both solo and group shows, including notable venues such as the National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, the National Library in Singapore, the Malaysian Art Exhibition in London, Cologne, Berlin, and Hamburg, the Redfern Gallery in London, and the Commonwealth Arts Festival in Glasgow and Dublin.

Cheong passed away in 1983, just four months before his retrospective at the former National Museum Art Gallery. His works continue to be studied, exhibited, and widely collected today, forming part of public collections including the National Heritage Board in Singapore, the National University of Singapore, and the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Cheong Soo Pieng's Art Style

A pioneer of East-West modernism since the 1950s, Cheong's emigration to Singapore marked the beginning of a prolific artistic journey. He experimented with various media and expressions, often drawing inspiration from his travels throughout Southeast Asia. His distinctive portrayal of regional figures, especially women, became a hallmark of his work.

Cheong pioneered the 'Nanyang Style' by creatively blending Eastern and Western material treatments and painting techniques. His innovative approach allowed him to capture and express the unique qualities of Southeast Asian landscapes and people.

Cheong's European travels significantly influenced his artistic evolution. His encounters with modernist abstraction inspired him to experiment with mixed media reliefs and sculptures, often overlooked aspects of his practice. These works challenged traditional art historical categories and created intriguing connections between his various artistic genres.