Cartoonist with whimsical view of life
OUTLOOK cartoonist See Chong Hui - familiar to readers of these pages as Seeeee ("remember the five e's in my name") - died on Friday 13 this month.
He was only 23 - a gentle Direct Honours undergraduate in the National University of Singapore's Arts Faculty, who always tried to give of his best in his cartoon work.
Whenever his cartoons saw print or whenever they were rejected, he would ring up the editor to inquire how he could improve his efforts.
According to the Chinese press, he was the leader - or "big brother" - of a group of young cartoonists who contributed to the youth pages of a Chinese newspaper. He used the signature "Straw Sandals" for his work there.
Of late, his cartoons for Outlook showed a firmer grasp of, and better focus on, topical issues of Singapore life. His last two efforts were witty perspectives on the absence of bumboats on the Singapore River and the probable phasing out of pig farms.
They were a subtle commentary on current events, unlike the timeless themes of Singapore life for which he showed a preference previously.
Today, as we mourn the untimely passing of a rare and budding talent, we publish his last posthumous contribution - on the current Central Provident Fund issue - as well as past cartoons which were timely when they appeared.
(The following is a account by Jane Perkins, former Section Two editor, of how See first introduced himself.)
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HE WAS 20 and in his first year at university when he first came to the office - clutching a portfolio of strip cartoons he'd been contributing to the Chinese press.
"You can't read Chinese, but I call this cahracter Little B, and I like him very much ... " he begain explaining, slowly, precisely, with his shy, self-deprecating smile.
The mature professionalism of the Little B strip, and the way he emphasised his readers' responses to the character of his creation, made me suspect See had rare talent and insight.
Big See - as we called him; his 1.88-m willowy frame towered over younger brother, artist Barry, quickly dubbed Little See - became a regular contributor to Outlook in Section Two about three years ago.
We devised a family for the weekly cartoon; an average Singapore three-tier family living in a high-rise and responding to everyday domestic issues.
But often, the reflective, strap-hanging student commuting by bus would intrude instead. The character was autobiographical; it looked remarkably like him.
When I steered him back to the family - acerbic grandpa, tizzy mother and guileless little sister - he'd explain how hard it was for him to depict family life.
As a student, he boarded with fellow undergraduates on weekdays, and the pressure of being the first Chinese-stream student to take a Direct Honours degree left no time for TV or for browsing through newspapers for inspiration.
But this month, the final exams were over. Results were due this week (the rumour among his classmates was that Big See would get a First Class).
He was toying between the choices of academia as a profession, Chinese drama production with the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation or the hardest path of all - full-time drawing and cartooning.
Whichever path he would have chosen, See's perception, sensitivity and analysis would have enriched the Singaporeans he communicated with.
Philosophically, he had much to say. And his talent had hardly begun to flower.
We'll miss his smile and whimsical view of the world around us.
See … talent nipped in the bud
