In Journey from Chong Siew Ying's 2011 Infinity oeuvre (Page 12-13, Infinity, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, May 6-29), the deserted road (pebbled?) funnels far, far ahead to a plethora of mists, hills and mountain tops, and a regiment of stratus clouds. Eyes are deceiving. Many things we see are not what they are. Many things we don't see are the substance of shadows. The stark black-and-white realism offers a hint of adventure and mystery. The journey of life is often filled with ups and downs, but no matter what, we have to move on with faith, hope, and love. With hard work, persistence, steely and fervent determination, one can overcome challenges. Chong Siew Ying's art-career path is one of grit, determination and serendipity. Many would have stayed put after a Graphic Design diploma at the Petaling Jaya College of Art and Design. Instead Chong hightailed to Paris, where she worked as an au pair, to support her art studies at the L'Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Versailles (1991-1994) and L'Atelier 63 (1994-1996), and with solos at the Maison Tch'A, Atelier d'Maravel and Gallery Cafe Panique, to boot. On her return, she won an artist's residency at Rimbun Dahan, and later the Fremont Fellowship at Vermont Studio Centre, United States. In 2002, she won the Special Award in the Young Contemporary Artists (BMS) competition and in 2009, was a finalist in the Hong Kong Sovereign Art Prize. She also had her solo at Valentine Willie Fine Art, and at The Edge Galerie.