Art Agenda, S.E.A.

Contemplating

Artist Profile

Born in Fujian, Cheong Soo Pieng (1917-1983) is one of Southeast Asia’s most prominent artists from the post-war Chinese diaspora. A ceaseless innovator, he constantly experimented with new artistic compositions and materials; a journey which culminated in both innovative abstract designs and sensitive depictions of Balinese figures. Combining the sensibilities of Chinese ink and Western oil painting, Cheong utilised graphic outlines and mellow tones to depict the realities of daily life in tropical Southeast Asia.