With a quick stab at his palette, Hua Chai Yong picks up enough paint to rapidly sketch the open air scene in front of him, and then proceeds to fill in the spaces outlined, one colour at a time, in short dabs and long trails. Welcome to his world of flat brush watercolours, of which Chai Yong is the pioneer in Singapore. The traditional British watercolour style predominant in Singapore and Malaysia uses round brushes which are good for fine lines, amorphous washes and dreamy, atmospheric scenes; the effect produced by Chai Yong’s flat brushes is direct, angular and lively. This imbues an active dynamism to the work when capturing familiar scenes from old communities, or exploring Singapore’s various maritime landscapes. Coupled with the artist’s penchant for unusual perspectives and colour-mixing, the works are bestowed with a sense of energy and freshness as if the artist were wishing his vignettes of yesteryear a cheery “Good Morning!”
 
To accompany him on his massive summary exhibition, Chai Yong has invited his former colleague from Bras Basah Community Centre, second-generation artist Leo Hee Tong, and ex-student and noted painter Yeo Siak Goon to accompany him on his journey down memory lane. What, after all, are reminiscences if not with friends?