Wee Beng Chong is one of Singapore's most versatile artists, producing exceptional works in various mediums, such as calligraphy, seal carving, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media works, oil and Chinese ink painting. His formal art education began in 1955 when he enrolled in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and was introduced to different genres of art. Besides building a solid foundation in Western art, the artist also picked up seal carving and Chinese ink painting under the tutelage of See Hiang To. Later in 1964, Wee studied sculpture at École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, adding sculpture-making to his impressive list of art skills. As a key figure in promoting the development of visual arts in Singapore from the 1960s–1980s, Wee was accorded the Cultural Medallion in 1979.
In Front vs Back, Wee drew inspiration from abstraction, employing a solid colour palette and strong, non-naturalistic brushwork. Despite his interests in modernist ideologies and aesthetics, his artworks also reflect his cultural roots. For instance, in this piece, Wee signed off with a seal imprint, which speaks to the traditions within Chinese art discourses.
