A behind-the-scenes look at a Chinese opera performer, brows furrowed, and waiting in the dark, away from the stage lights. Pondering or waiting, our performer stands still, contemplating — that is, until the stage beckons. Active since the 1980s, Zheng Yuande is known for his series of paintings on Chinese opera around the 1980s to 1990s. Through the years, his work has attracted a distinguished list of discerning private and corporate collectors, chief among them, Bank Utama (now RHB Bank) Kuala Lumpur, Chulalongkorn University Bangkok, Malaysian Institute of Arts, British Council Malaysia, NN Gallery, Shell Malaysia, Australian High Commission, and Galeri Petronas. Currently, Zheng’s focus is on 3D molded metal artworks, with a unique focus on the fluidity and movement of the human body.