鍾泗濱

私人收藏，美國

The work is in overall good condition. Evidence of minor wear and handling around the edges, but this does not detract from the quality of the artwork. Under ultraviolet inspection there are no signs of retouching. Framed.
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Fascinated by the diverse cultures that existed throughout Southeast Asia, Cheong Soo Pieng desired to recapture this rich blend of aesthetics within the compositions of his own oeuvre. Painted in 1976 the present work Musicians perfectly exemplifies the motifs and styles that would come to populate his later paintings. Inspired by the Balinese people whom he met during his frequent trips to Indonesia twenty-some years prior to the creation of the present piece, Cheong Soo Pieng’s figurative narratives were largely colored by the lives of the individuals he befriended during this time abroad.

In Musicians the elongated limbs and torsos of the individuals, as well as their almond-shaped faces, are all reminiscent of the Wayang shadow puppets that are found in Balinese theater. The choice of deviating away from traditional Western aesthetics may be seen as the artist’s want to momentarily break away from “civilized” society, and find sanctuary amidst a naturalistic landscape and its people.

The choice of medium used is demonstrative of Chong Soo Pieng’s experimental techniques with painting as an art form. The rough texture of the canvas draws attention to the subject matter of the artwork, for by accentuating the material is he able to direct the viewer’s attention to the scene-at-hand. The absence of a single light source and “flattening” the pictorial space by the lack of shadows, as well as the use of a neutral color palette, all emphasize the artwork’s primeval intent.  

As a Chinese artist who immigrated to Singapore, it may be said that Cheong Soo Pieng’s diverse background coupled with his interest in traveling abroad enriched his overall oeuvre. The painting Musicians is reflective of this appreciation and great respect for other cultures. The embracement of different places adnd people was also part of Cheong Soo Pieng’s journey to explore his self-identity within the storyline of his own existence.