Singaporean artist Tung Yue Nang (b.1959) is known for his Chinese ink paintings that combine Western compositional techniques with a delicate Chinese brush-and-ink execution. He is skilled at depicting everyday life through observation and painting on-site, his works are highly detailed, rich in local flavour, cultural allusions and regional characteristics.

In depicting the activities and ongoings at the back alley behind a Chinese dim-sum shop in Geylang (known locally as Wen Dao Shi at Sims Avenue), Tung adopts classical Chinese ink painting principles, paying attention to compositional balance with multiple viewpoints, altering depths, height and subjects creating moments in time and events, that develop like a scene in a movie. A woman stands on the top of the spiral stairs as diners chatter animatedly below. Billowing steam emanates from the food steamers and rises upwards into the misty sky. The adept use of brushwork and ink washes gives depth and life to the painting and celebrates the authenticity of the place and people.

Tung was a graphic design director before he left the corporate world. He is self-taught, having learnt Chinese ink painting, seal carving and calligraphy under pioneer artist-teacher Shi Xiangtuo when he was 15; and later ceramics and sculpture under renowned sculptor Ng Eng Teng.