Amongst the early NAFA lecturers in the 1940s and 1950s, only a few such as Cheong and Chen Wen Hsi (1906-1991) eventually had the good fortune of early retirement to become full-time artists. This meant that they had little time for their own practice. In early 20 th century Singapore, many China-born and trained artists such as Cheong had to initially make a living by teaching art full-time, either in an academy like the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) or local schools. For an artist whose practice was so rich and diverse, there remain many fertile areas for future research, of which art patronage is one.Īrtists do not live in a vacuum. Essays on him usually focus on his experimental spirit and formalistic innovations, often highlighting his synthesis of Western and Chinese art traditions. Images: National Heritage Board & Family of Cheong Soo PiengīeMuse Volume 3 Issue 4 - Oct to Dec 2010Ĭheong Soo Pieng (1917-1983) is generally regarded today as one of the most innovative and influential Singapore artists of the 20 th century. Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts Deputy Director (Heritage) Arts and Heritage Division
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