Cheong Soo Pieng, a pioneer Nanyang artist born in Xiamen, Fujian, is known for his distinctive style, which stemmed from a profound understanding of easel painting and Chinese aesthetics. Layer by Layer uncovers never-before-seen revelations into Cheong’s artistic practice, presenting over 30 paintings from the 1950s to the 1980s. This exhibition is Southeast Asia’s first to make use of in-depth material analysis, through tools such as x-ray scans and infrared photography to uncover untold stories behind Cheong’s artworks, and explore how an artist like Cheong conceives, composes and puts an artwork together – layer by layer.

The exhibition showcases how even works that look like conventional paintings can reveal much more. Drying Salted Fish (1978), featured on the back of Singapore’s $50 note, holds secrets that have gone unnoticed by many. Although familiar to countless people, the different types of inks used by Cheong in this painting have remained undiscovered until now. The piece showcases fine delicate lines that detail a composition reminiscent of classical Chinese ink painting. Upon closer inspection, one discovers that Cheong used different types of water-based inks (i.e. ink stick, liquid ink, etc.), skilfully painting them onto silk. This reflects his dynamic artistic technique and ability to capture both the essence of traditional Chinese art techniques and the expressive potential of diverse mediums.