In Bukit Timah (武吉知马山), This contemporary Chinese landscape painting harmoniously blends traditional brush techniques with modern commentary. At first glance, the work follows the classical shanshui (mountain-water) format, featuring misty mountains, winding rivers, and intricate flora rendered in fine ink strokes and subtle color washes. The composition draws the viewer into a serene, idealized natural world typical of literati painting.

However, Shen introduces a striking contrast: three industrial chimneys rise from the mountain ridge on the right side of the composition. This unexpected intrusion of industry into the otherwise untouched landscape serves as a quiet but potent critique of environmental disruption and modernization’s encroachment on nature.

Nestled among banana trees and traditional tiled-roof houses in the foreground, human life appears humble and integrated into the natural setting, further emphasizing the dissonance created by the industrial structures in the distance. The juxtaposition challenges the viewer to reflect on the balance between cultural heritage, ecological preservation, and the march of progress.

The work is a poignant visual meditation on transformation—both in the physical environment and in cultural memory. By merging ancient aesthetics with symbols of modern development, Shen opens a dialogue on what is gained and lost as tradition meets industry.