Veins, Grains, and Striae is a specially commissioned work by Singaporean artist Yanyun Chen, created for the Bank of Singapore collection in 2024. The commission reflects Bank of Singapore's commitment to supporting the arts in the region and enriching the dialogue within Southeast Asia's artistic community.

Taking the heritage Tembusu tree, famously depicted on Singapore's five-dollar note, as its point of departure, the work shifts focus away from the tree's iconic representation and toward the marks of age and growth etched into its bark. Crafted using Tembusu wood for the frames and flanks, the piece features a charcoal portrait capturing the fissures and scars on the trunk, while a side-leaning branch is burned directly into the wood, extending the narrative of endurance and survival. Together, these elements contemplate familial kinship and generational wealth, drawing parallels between the tree's flourishing and the growth of a family — grounded by deep roots, hardened through resilience, and marked by scars that tell stories of care, persistence and a journey toward growth and light.

Centred on Asian family values and intergenerational relationships, the work speaks to themes that resonate at the heart of Bank of Singapore's identity and collecting vision.

Art Outreach contributed to Veins, Grains, and Striae through artist recommendation and support in realising the presentation, bringing curatorial knowledge and operational experience to the project.