Ink and colour on silk mounted on jute mat

88 × 48 cm. 34 5/8 × 18 7/8 in.

Signed in Chinese with an artist's seal on middle right; stamped with an artist's seal on bottom left; titled, dated and signed in Chinese on the reverse
EXHIBITED
28 Oct-28 Dec 2018, Reminiscence of Singapore's Pioneer Art Masters: Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Chong Swee, Chen Wen Hsi, Liu Kang, Composition Pte Ltd, Singapore

PROVENANCE
Acquired directly by present private Singaporean collector from the artist's relative

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the son of the artist

Capturing the Fragrance of Flowers, Creating a Secluded Paradise
The Father of Modern Art in Singapore: Cheong Soo Pieng's Rare Sitk Work Shepherd

"I don't specifically seek or create a certain style, it's the artist's expression of the combination of his observation to the situation and the wisdom he learned from the past experience. It then became the creative force of my own, integrating my thoughts and emotions as a journey in art."

――Cheong Soo Pieng

Cheong Soo Pieng was born in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China, in 1917. He later studied art at Xinhua Art Academy in Shanghai and after moving to Singapore in 1946 encountered new artistic ideas from the world. In 1952, together with Chen Wen-hsi, Liu Kang and Chen Chong Swee, Cheong traveled to Bali Island in Indonesia to paint from nature. The huge difference in Bali from that of China had a major visual impact on all four of men, giving rise to a unique expression form of painting imbued with Nanyang School - using powerful colours to draw attention to local people and customs, in what was an important chapter in the history of South Asian painting. From 1961-1963, Cheong lived in the United Kingdom where he adopted a forward looking artistic vision based on lyrical abstract expressionism. At that time, he and Zao Wou-ki held solo exhibitions at the renowned Redfern Gallery in London, as a result of which he received much praise and attention from the Western art world. Later, Cheong returned to Singapore with his new lyrical abstract expressionist forms, where he created the semi-abstract “Southeast Asian Landscape series,” with works that provide a new impetus to the modernist reform of Southeast Asian aesthetics. In the 1980s, the artist revisited ink painting and took the traditional Singaporean creative model to new limits, established a foundation for the development of modern art and in the process became one of the leading figures in the Nanyang School.

This auction presents Shepherd, a masterpiece completed in 1981, which epitomizes Cheong Soo Pieng's famous Nanyang style. The work is painted on silk mounted on jute mat, media exclusive to the Nanyang region. The piece exhibits Cheong's superb use of mix media and mastery in employing classical creative theories in his art.

Departing the Divine Land and Attending to the Beautiful Material World

A young girl is depicted in Shepherd. She has a delicate face structure, almond-shaped eyes, defined eyebrows, and slender limbs- all of which are typical traits of Nanyang characters. The girl wears a white hood, a long pink gown, and a pencil skirt decorated with willow leaves and yellow ink. In addition to the local fashion, the warm and subtropical colours accentuate the youthfulness of the girl who is in her blooming years. She picks a flower petal with one hand and places it under her nose, inhaling the fragrance. In front of her, a lamb entertains itself by drinking water from a puddle on the ground. The artist visualized the Buddhist parable that says, “The Ruo River is three thousand li long, one only drinks one ladle worth of water from it.”, meaning that despite the infinite amazing things in life, we should be content with focusing on just one. The parable is a reflection of Cheong Soo Pieng's vision of “subsistence as the most ideal form of living in the paradise”, his belief and pursuit of the imaginary utopia.

For the composition of the piece, the artist adopted the structure of a church apse, producing the impression that the protagonist is a sculpture carved by Michelangelo. However, as she dresses in Nanyang fashion, the girl steps out of the saintly imagery, radiating warmth and liveliness.

The One and Only Piece Created on the Jute Mat in the Market

In Shepherd, Cheong Soo Pieng used silk instead of the traditional canvas to present soft ink lines, further enhancing the gentle personality of Nanyang women. The use of silk and jute mat as the main media fully demonstrates Cheong Soo Piengs' expert use of mixed media materials. The delicateness of the silk contrasts with the roughness of the jute mat, creating rich textures as they collide; injecting coarseness into the innately soft material. The contrast of the materials mirrors the conflicting roles of the young girl – she is expected to carry out her responsibilities as a shepherd while experiencing her coming-of-age. The piece contains meaningful messages worthy of contemplation.

Price estimate:
HKD: 220,000 - 350,000
USD: 28,000 - 44,600

Auction Result:
HKD: --