Design

An exploration of geometric shapes and lines within fields of amorphous blues and browns, Design (lot 206) by renowned Singaporean artist, Cheong Soo Pieng evokes a sense of tranquil focus within its picture plane. Colour tones blend softly and seamlessly, fading from light to dark and back again. In between, curvaceous lines run freely through the coloured ground, unrestrained and unplanned as they leave a trace of the artist's touch in its wake. A quality seen in many of his works in hisabstract-cubist period after his Europeansojourn in 1962, this present lot, painted in 1974 pays homage to the Cubist works of Paul Klee and Piet Mondrian. Influenced by theseWestern artists, Cheong started to simplify his forms as he tried to capture the essence ofhis subject matter and the world around himthrough colour and shapes. Divided into twomain areas of blue and earth tones, this mixedmedia canvas works is a reminder of Cheong'sAsian roots and his career-long interest in depicting landscapes. With his abstract period, In another instance, the colours and the way in which the forms are denoted within the piece bear resemblance to traditional batik textiles, undoubtedly inspired by Cheong's many travels around Southeast Asia, especially through his pivotal Bali trip with fellow Singaporean artists in the 1950s. Works of the local people are dotted throughout the artist's oeuvre and certain qualities of the batik sarongs of his women can be seen translated here. Cheong took on the challenge of simplifying the earth and sky into their basic forms.
In another instance, the colours and the way inwhich the forms are denoted within the piecebear resemblance to traditional batik textiles,undoubtedly inspired by Cheong's many travelsaround Southeast Asia, especially throughhis pivotal Bali trip with fellow Singaporeanartists in the 1950s. Works of the local peopleare dotted throughout the artist's oeuvre andcertain qualities of the batik sarongs of hiswomen can be seen translated here.
Together, this work represents an importanttime in Cheong's artistic development. The richheritage of Southeast Asia and Western artisticideologies are harmoniously intertwined andcaptured in the most spectacularly authenticmanner as it drives new perceptions andencourages the endless possibilities of artmaking.