Cheong Soo Pieng

From the private collection of Mr. Stewart C. Mason,  former Director of Education for Leicestershire UK, founder of the Leicestershire County Collection of Works of Art in Schools, Trustee of  The Tate Gallery and the National Gallery London, and Curator of the Institute of Contemporary Prints (Tate Gallery).

The painting is in good condition, as is the canvas, which is clear and taut. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals some scattered spots of retouching on the upper right corner, along the left and bottom edges (probably due to abrasion from previous framing), along the lower right edge and margin, as well as in the lower register (scattered on the abstract form: two in the left yellow area, about four spots in the darker areas). The green of the actual painting is less yellow and more sage-green and the blue tones are more prominent in reality.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"Soo Pieng's sojourn in Europe brought him confidence and prestige as one of Singapore's most sought after artists. He had made a risky decision in 1961 when he resigned from his teaching position at NAFA to become a full-time artist. However, it turned out to be the right choice as his ability to focus all his time on artistic practice was rewarded by public and corporate commissions in the 1960s."

SENG YU JIN IN CHEONG SOO PIENG, VISIONS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA, (PUBLISHED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EXHIBITION "CHEONG SOO PIENG: BRIDGING WORLDS", ORGANISED BY SENG YU JIN AND GRACE TNG, CURATORS AT THE NATIONAL ART GALLERY, SINGAPORE, 15 SEPTEMBER – 26 DECEMBER 2010), THE NATIONAL ART GALLERY, SINGAPORE, 2010, P. 39