Singapore born artist Chieu Shuey Fook is recognised for his inventiveness in his artistic vision and adept use of unconventional materials in his art making; a result of decades of experiments and experience working in a variety of materials in both commercial and artistic projects. Over the years he discovered and created methods that allowed him to consistently achieve textures, colour and forms across the material he works in, creating expressive surfaces that are distinctively his own.  Chieu graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1953 with a Diploma in Western Painting, and was deeply influenced by his teacher, pioneer artist Cheong Soo Pieng. His prolific career and practice reflect his originality and desire to refresh traditions with a modern outlook. Chieu’s oeuvre consists of batik, zinc etchings, enamels and glass, metal reliefs, large-scale murals and compositions. 

Belonging to a generation when the modern art movement was greatly influential in the late 20thcentury locally and the world at large, Chieu’s body of works are predominantly abstract in expression. In the work Peacock, the extravagant feathers of the male peacock in display during courtship take centrestage. To render the movement and posture of the peacock, Chieu employed directional brushwork to capture the fanning of feathers, contrasting warm hues of pink and orange against the cool hue of a blue background.