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The bridesmaid, decked resplendently, not unlike a bride, prays to be next in line to tie the knot with someone suitable. This work from his Nanyang series between 1979 and 1980 was done with the delicate Bai Miao fine-line drawing and the Mijia Dian (after Mi-Fu) techniques. Note her eyes, facial expressions and elements of her delicately detailed regalia.

Born in Shanghai, Huang Yao is known as a cartoonist, scholar and painter, who created the infamous Chinese cartoon character Niubizi (OX Snout) and developed his acclaimed Wenzihua (painting of ancient Chinese characters) and Ziyouhua (abstract paintings). His move to Malaysia had marked a transition in his life as a scholar from 1956 to 1973. As a painter, he was trained by his father and studied the old Chinese masters. Huang Yao’s recent exhibition was held at Shanghai Art Museum in August 2011. He is also honoured with a retrospective exhibition in Singapore in 2001. His works are collected by the British Museum, Ashmolen Museum, National Palace Museum of Taiwan and Shanghai Museum, among others.