After graduating from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in 1971, Singaporean artist Chng Seok Tin furthered her studies abroad, attending the Saint Martin’s School of Art and the Hull College of Higher Education in England. In the 1980s, Chng took an interest in printmaking, moving to Paris to learn intaglio and engraving under the tutelage of the printmaker Stanley William Hayter at the world-famous Atelier 17. She continued to pursue printmaking in the United States. She enrolled at New Mexico State University to learn traditional intaglio printing from Spencer Fidler and, later, printmaker Mauricio Lasansky at the University of Iowa, where she obtained two master’s degrees in printmaking. After returning to Singapore, Chng taught printmaking at NAFA, Lasalle College of the Arts and the National Institute of Education, playing a pivotal role in modern printmaking in Singapore. 

Despite her visual impairment, Chng created prints with new approaches, focusing mainly on the tactile and sculptural qualities of her works. Enclosure IX reflects Chng’s concern with human, social and environmental issues. This monotype was completed in 1990, after the loss of her eyesight in the late 1980s.