Chua’s daily life and art were heavily influenced by Chinese culture. He composed Chinese poetry, read Chinese literature, and honed his calligraphy skills, which he learned from his father. Chua’s enthusiasm in calligraphy lasted all the way until Catholic High School. He turned his own poems into calligraphic characters, combining his love of classical Chinese poetry with calligraphy. Chua had already established himself in the calligraphy and poetry circles by 1975, the year he began learning Chinese brush painting and seal carving from Fan Chang Tien, the Shanghai School’s premier brush painter. According to Shanghai School principles, perfection consists of four elements: calligraphy, classical poetry, drawing, and seal carving, which Chua aspired to in his artistic work.