SINGAPOREAN
1917 — 1983

Nanyang art pioneer Cheong Soo Pieng is widely revered as a titan in Singapore art history. With immense creativity, skill, and inventiveness, Cheong developed an impressive body of work from a unique repertoire of styles and mediums. In 1952, Cheong, together with fellow pioneers Chen Wen Hsi, Chen Chong Swee, and Liu Kang, embarked on the landmark Bali trip that forever transformed Nanyang art and their individual artistic identities. Between 1961 and 1963, Cheong travelled across Europe, absorbing from new sources of cultural and aesthetic inspiration that later enhanced his pictorial language. The sojourn culminated in successful exhibitions at various galleries in Europe, including solo shows at the Frost & Reed Gallery and the Redfern Gallery, both in London, and the Galerie Schoninger in Munich, Germany. For his contributions to Singapore’s visual arts scene, Cheong was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1962. Cheong’s works are collected by important institutions, such as the National Gallery of Singapore, the National Heritage Board of Singapore, and the National Art Gallery of Malaysia.