This presentation of Chong Siew Ying’s work from 1996 to 1997 captured a period of intense reflection and stylistic exploration following her formative years in France at the École Des Beaux-Arts Versailles and L’Atelier 63. In the accompanying essay, “A Reflective Life,” Laura Fan describes Chong’s practice as “unapologetically diverse,” drawing not just from personal history but from deep inquiries into literature, psychoanalysis, and philosophy. This intellectual framework is most visible in her Nostalgic series, where “visually luscious” surfaces serve as backdrops for figures that function as universal symbols of humanity rather than specific individuals.

By stripping her subjects of specific characteristics, Chong explores the “complex human condition” and the lingering influence of past experiences. The works from this period, including the Under the Pu Ti Tree sketches, mark a transition toward broader themes of nature and the search for meaning.