My artworks have been mostly autobiographical. They have helped me to
explore facets of my identity as an overseas Chinese Singaporean
intellectual, having resided in the United States for over a quarter-century.
Born and reared in Singapore, I learned about Chinese culture during my
formative education, partially delivered in English translations in the form of
historical information and classical literature. Captivating me most,
however, were stories and legends passed down from elder relatives and
hearsay from a wider family circle intimately conveyed in various dialects.
For my creative digital photocollages, dissecting the format of horizontal
Chinese classical scroll paintings with vertical strips to create a UPC
(Universal Product Code) / barcode began as a playful visual experiment
yielding surprisingly rewarding outcomes. From the outset, certain subject
matter continually resurfaced, for example, young children dressed in
traditional costumes assuming three positions: dancing robustly, sitting
attentively, and hauling invisible baggage on their shoulders. They were
symbolically enjoying, absorbing, or resisting the stories, legends, and
gossip tied to childhood memories of home.