Si Jing (the pen name of Ng Soo Lui) was a prolific female writer in the Chinese community. Born in Singapore in 1934, she has written extensively on her childhood and life in Chinatown. Her husband, Huang Da Li, was an amateur photographer and Si Jing often became the subject of his photographs.In the photograph, Si Jing is wearing a ‘samfoo’, a traditional Chinese outfit which consists of a top (‘sam’) with side fastenings and a mandarin collar, usually worn over pants (‘foo’). Traditionally, the ‘samfoo’ is loose fitting. The cut of the ‘samfoo’ makes it convenient for the wearer to carry out everyday activities. However, during the 1950s and 1960s, the ‘samfoo’ became tight fitting under the influence of Western fashion. This photograph is part of the donor’s personal photograph collection.
