While Chuah Siew Teng, being one of the artist scions of batik-art pioneer Dato Chuah Thean Teng, is best known for his batik painting, this work shows up the good foundations of his British art tutelage at the Ravensbourne College of Art & Design (1965-66) and the City and Guild Art School (1966-69). The scene is that of the bridge over the Waterfall River in Penang’s Botanical Gardens, now sealed off and accessible only by permission from the Penang Water Authority (Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang). Such a beautiful view is now unknown to many of the younger generation, as the area has been turned into a water-treatment plant. The garden was founded by Charles Curtis from a granite quarry in 1884, but has seen better days, what with Penang’s water needs coming mainly from Kedah now. S.Teng, as he signs his works to distinguish from his more illustrious father’s ‘Teng’ imprimatur, is very versatile in all types of painting media – drawing, watercolour, oil, acrylic and batik. His batik art is distinguished by the play of light, with positive-negative elements, and with a stained-glass effect. In 1992, his batik titled The Monkey was selected for the Unicef Greeting Card’s programme. In 1964, his painting, Joy of Living, was awarded a Certificate of Merit in the national art competition, and in 1965, he won a prize with his painting, Outdoor, in the Malaysian artists competition. His solos were staged in four different continents – Lower Gallery, London, Britain (1967), World Art Associates, United States (1971), Argyle Art Centre, New South Wales, Australia (1972) and Kanda Gallery in Tokyo, Osaka and Okinawa in Japan (1975). That same year, in 1975, he was invited to hold demonstrations at the Freemantle Art Centre in Australia.