Cheong Soo Pieng is regarded as a pivotal figure in Singapore’s modern art development. Born in Xiamen (Amoy), China in 1914, he was part of a group of artists that attempted to articulate a style identifiable and pertinent to post-war Singapore, then known collectively with Malaysia, as Malaya. This style, later crystallized as the Nanyang Style, provided a foundation upon which future generations of artists learned and expanded on. ‘The Universe’, another metal relief work, is considered an abstract work although it borders on the surreal. Mostly rendered in earthy colours, it is richly filled with symbols ripe for various readings. The top-half of the composition presents what looks like a landscape with the sun hovering above, all framed within the box. It could also resemble a head with the body represented by the other two parts at the bottom-half. Whatever the readings, one cannot deny there is an enigmatic quality in this work.
