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Lot Essay
Cheong Soo Pieng is a master and one of the important pioneer artists of the typical Nanyang style of Southeast Asian narratives. His works are not purely historical documentation, but a time machine that captures the mood of Southeast Asia at a time when the region was experiencing a de-colonisation and searching for an identity unique to itself, a window into the past. Durian Seller (Lot 349) is a wonderful example of the way in which he encapsulated the atmosphere of the region, incorporating various indigenous cultural elements in the work: the tropical fruit, the act of communal eating, the batik motifs on women's clothing and his iconic textural devices inspired by Chinese calligraphy. For Soo Pieng the quotidian was a constant source of inspiration, declaring that "the equator is a paradise for a gamut of flowers and fruits, aquatic life and birds. As long as we are open to new ideas and are willing to learn from nature, the source of subjects for painting is endless." Indeed, to some extent, Durian Seller can be seen as Soo Pieng's homage to what is known regionally as 'the king of fruit'.
Colour and composition are the cornerstones of any painting by Soo Pieng and this work is no exception. The diagonal line of the opium pipe functions as a structuring device within the composition, jutting across the canvas. Opium was commonly smoked in Southeast Asia, having been introduce to region by tribal immigrants who brought the poppy seed with them. By the early 20th Century, the French Indochina began stimulating the trade of opium, becoming a popular past time of many migrant workers. The end of the pipe then leads visually into the painting and toward the durian seller's stall front, within which Soo Pieng has left a little whimsical element. Soo Pieng displays his own personality and sense of humour by including his name in the signboard, which translates to "mangosteen and durian, quality assured Soo Pieng". The eye follows through, catching on to the outstanding bright vermilion within the fabric of the lady's skirt, creating a circular visual current that he so favoured because of its harmonious quality. These visual devices are a combination of Soo Pieng's own understanding and reimagination of both Eastern and Western artistic techniques, effecting a of innovative and highly distinct styles that despite their differences, have become the hallmark of his oeuvre, electing comparisons between him and the famous cubist painter, Pablo Picasso.
Considering the humanist subject-matter and the exquisite quality of the work, Durian Seller is a rare piece by the artist to be offered on the market. His sensitivity to the human condition, coupled with his unwavering desire to elevate the everyday through painting has made him a cultural luminary and one of the most pivotal figures in the Nanyang Style movement.
Colour and composition are the cornerstones of any painting by Soo Pieng and this work is no exception. The diagonal line of the opium pipe functions as a structuring device within the composition, jutting across the canvas. Opium was commonly smoked in Southeast Asia, having been introduce to region by tribal immigrants who brought the poppy seed with them. By the early 20th Century, the French Indochina began stimulating the trade of opium, becoming a popular past time of many migrant workers. The end of the pipe then leads visually into the painting and toward the durian seller's stall front, within which Soo Pieng has left a little whimsical element. Soo Pieng displays his own personality and sense of humour by including his name in the signboard, which translates to "mangosteen and durian, quality assured Soo Pieng". The eye follows through, catching on to the outstanding bright vermilion within the fabric of the lady's skirt, creating a circular visual current that he so favoured because of its harmonious quality. These visual devices are a combination of Soo Pieng's own understanding and reimagination of both Eastern and Western artistic techniques, effecting a of innovative and highly distinct styles that despite their differences, have become the hallmark of his oeuvre, electing comparisons between him and the famous cubist painter, Pablo Picasso.
Considering the humanist subject-matter and the exquisite quality of the work, Durian Seller is a rare piece by the artist to be offered on the market. His sensitivity to the human condition, coupled with his unwavering desire to elevate the everyday through painting has made him a cultural luminary and one of the most pivotal figures in the Nanyang Style movement.