The delicate play of light and shadows is well caught in this peaceful street scene in Bali. Villagers immersed in daily routines are translated by the master watercolour painter. Nature and travel have provided huge inspiration for the artist. Ong’s affinity for delightful scenes preserves the fleeting moments in time. Self-taught Ong Kim Seng has travelled all over the world to paint quaint scenes of romance. Such is his skills that he is the first Asian outside of the United States to be made a member of the American Watercolour Society, and after winning a total of six different awards made a Dolphin Fellow in 2000 (he is a member since 1992). In Singapore, he was accorded the Cultural Medallion (1990) and the Arts Supporters Award (2001) for being adviser to the National Arts Council since 1998. He is also president of the Singapore Watercolour Society from 1991 to 2001, and organising chairman of the Asian Watercolours 1997. His collectors include Queen Elizabeth II, former UN secretary-general Kofi Anan, and former prime ministers of Thailand, Japan and India. In the Hong Kong Sotheby’s auction on April 2, 2017, his acrylic on canvas, Nepal, sold for a premium of HK$735,000.