Singaporean painter Leo Hee Tong studied at NAFA from 1957 to 1960 under the guidance of pioneer artist-educator Cheong Soo Pieng and later went to Ashiya Art College in Japan to further his studies (1973-1974), a milestone that marked his transformation as an artist. Leo took the opportunity to immerse himself in Japanese culture, the people and history of places, forming deep connections and memories of his time there.

Garden features the pigeon and tree motifs that have become recurring subjects in his later paintings. Executed in his characteristic semi-abstract style, the composition depicts a flock of pigeons dispersed across an expansive green landscape, anchored by a tree that occupies the background. While pigeons are common in the urban environment, they hold particular significance in Leo’s practice, symbolising harmony, community, and familial bonds.

Gifted to NAFA at the opening of Memories of Time: Leo Hee Tong in 2024, Garden was conceived as a tribute to the artist’s alma mater. The garden functions as a metaphor for the Academy as a place of learning and artistic development, while the pigeons represent students who are nurtured before embarking on their own creative journeys. The tree, providing shelter and sustenance for the birds, further reinforces the role of the institution as a supportive environment for growth and education.