Back fin

Tong excelled in wood carving. His sculptures, bold in manner, are characterised by fine and delicately nuanced textures. This work is made of teak wood, which is Tong's favourite material. Tong employed entirely different approaches in handling the two parts of this work. Smooth surfaces, curved shapes and anatomical form are shown to give the appearance of a human "back", while powerful, rough and straight cuts are presented on the upper part, the "fin". It reveals an essence of simplicity with linear configurations and textures that convey the beauty of natural harmony and forms.