SINGAPORE — Artcommune gallery, with the sponsorship of Dr. Lee Hung Ming, has unveiled Cheong Soo Pieng: A Retrospective, happening from September 16 to October 01 at Artspace @ Helutrans. Featuring over 80 works of Cheong Soo Pieng, the retrospective exhibition will offer a comprehensive look into all aspects of the prolific artist’s career over the span of 40 years. As a pioneer of the Nanyang art style and a renowned figure in the local art scene, his work is widely revered by practitioners and collectors in Singapore and overseas. This exhibition also marks Cheong’s first retrospective showcase in thirteen years, since his last show at the Singapore Art Museum, and will present an in-depth exploration of the diverse styles and themes that have characterized his career.
In 2021, artcommune gallery organized Tonalities: The Ink Works of Cheong Soo Pieng, a milestone exhibition that garnered an overwhelming response from the public and attracted an audience of over two thousand. Following the enthusiastic responses of young visitors who enquired about viewing a wider range of Cheong Soo Pieng’s works, artcommune gallery has joined hands with local collectors to dedicate their efforts and resources to curating a retrospective exhibition of the pioneer’s artistic oeuvre. Sourced exclusively from private collections, the exhibition showcases the remarkable dedication and passion of local collectors of Cheong’s works.
Ho Sou Ping, Artist and Director of artcommune gallery, said, “We are heartened to see that there is a rising generation of young collectors, who have stepped up to contribute works to this retrospective exhibition, allowing us to flesh out a comprehensive overview of Cheong Soo Pieng’s artistic journey. This includes our main sponsor Dr. Lee Hung Ming, whom we would like to thank for his generous sponsorship and contributions to setting a new path forward for the appreciation of Cheong Soo Pieng’s legacy.”
Ho added, “As part of our commitment to nurture the local arts scene, artcommune gallery is constantly working towards strengthening our efforts to cultivate and rally the growing base of collectors on home ground to spotlight the rich stories of art history within Singapore.”
Unveiling the remarkable legacy of Cheong Soo Pieng
Cheong Soo Pieng: A Retrospective showcases the master’s comprehensive body of art, spanning from his earlier works in the 1940s to his final works in the 1980s. Curated chronologically, audiences will be able to traverse Cheong’s artistic journey and witness his stylistic growth over the years. Organized into nine distinctive themes, the retrospective showcase includes the Nanyang art movement of the 1950s, his European journey in the 1960s, mixed media works and the Nanyang Decorative style, and more.
Given the diverse facets of Cheong’s art, the exhibition aims to facilitate and provide accessible ways of interpretation for both seasoned and new audiences to better understand his art, appreciate his artistic achievements, and grasp the rationale behind his status as one of Singapore’s greatest artists.
Spotlighting new academic discoveries and collections
Prior to 2009, the scope of academic research and comprehension surrounding Cheong’s life and artistic endeavors was highly limited. With the collective efforts of institutions and local communities, significant strides have been made in understanding the artist over the past decade.
In recent years, many exquisite artworks that were previously dormant in the possession of the older generation of collectors have resurfaced and were transferred into the hands of a new generation of collectors. Among them include notable pieces from renowned collections, such as those of Sir Run Run Shaw and the original collections of the artists’ families. These valuable works – hidden from the eyes of the public for decades, will be presented in the exhibition.
Cheong Soo Pieng: A Retrospective exhibition highlights
While the exhibition serves as a retrospective showcase spanning Cheong’s entire artistic practice, audiences can explore the master’s creative journey through three distinct areas of study:
1. Non-painting mediums and matured abstract series
Explore Cheong’s non-painting mediums and mature abstract series from 1966 to 1978, two series that have been relatively unexplored due to the scarcity of oral and written materials left behind by the artist. With the resurfacing of Cheong’s works, the local community is now able to piece together the inspirations, artistic intentions, and the development of these unique painting styles in the art master’s mind. As prolific accomplishments in Cheong’s life, these two series have grounded his status as one of the most innovative Chinese artists of the 20th century and left an indelible mark on art history.
Collection.
122 x 91 cm. Private Collection.
2. Nanyang decorative style
Cheong’s Nanyang decorative style brings together a selection of some of the finest pieces from the series. Due to the high prices and the secretive nature of some pieces held by longtime collectors, it was challenging to gather an adequate quantity and quality of works from the series. This exhibition presents a range of his finest pieces spanning between 1974 to 1983, offering a comprehensive look into the development of his most renowned collection.
Private Collection.
Collection.
3. Sung-style Nanyang Ink series
Allegedly, Cheong had intentions to organize a touring exhibition across multiple cities in China during the 1980s, and this ambition not only fueled his creation of the Sung-style Nanyang Ink series but was the driving force behind it. Unfortunately, he passed away before the tour could come to fruition. In this exhibition, a dedicated space has been set up to showcase this series of artworks, which visualizes how the exhibition might have unfolded for audiences to catch a glimpse into his unrealized aspirations.
paper, 153 x 64 cm. Private Collection.
Private Collection.
The Second Edition of The Story of Cheong Soo Pieng
For those who are keen to delve deeper into Cheong Soo Pieng’s artistic journey, artcommune gallery will be releasing the second edition of “The Story of Cheong Soo Pieng” in commemoration of the launch of the retrospective exhibition. Written by Ho Sou Ping, Artist and Director of artcommune gallery, the bilingual publication (in English and Chinese texts) spans more than 320 pages, tracing the chronological developments of the art master’s oeuvre as his practice evolved over the course of four decades. Featuring new and expanded research and around 300 artworks in various mediums – such as oils, watercolors, drawings, sculptures, and mixed media, the book presents an exquisite array of the master’s artistic expressions.
Cheong Soo Pieng: A Retrospective will be open to the public at Artspace @ Helutrans from September 16 to October 01, from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm daily. Admission is free.
