ABOUT

Born in the turbulent aftermath of World War II,
Ong’s early life was shaped by struggle. Driven
by necessity, he worked a string of modest jobs
– including as welder, technician and police
constable – to put food on the table, before
finding his calling in art.

Without formal training, Ong taught himself to
paint, stealing time between shifts to master his
craft. He began with charcoal on newspapers
and later discovered his enduring medium,
watercolour. In 1985, at the age of 40, he made
the leap into full-time artistry just as Singapore
entered its first post-independence recession.

What followed was extraordinary. Ong would
go on to win nine awards from the American
Watercolor Society, earn the Cultural Medallion
and Excellence for Singapore Award 2000, and see his work enter prestigious collections
worldwide. His paintings found their way to
Queen Elizabeth II, the Sultan of Brunei, former
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan
and other leaders of the world.

This book traces Ong’s journey through time
and terrain: from kampung streets to Himalayan
heights, from Singapore River to the lighthouses
of Pedra Branca. His story unfolds not only
as personal triumph but as part of the broader
canvas of a young nation coming into its own.

Ong Kim Seng stands as a living testament
to the power of perseverance, imagination.
His legacy is inseparable from the country
he calls home.