Romeo and Juliet, printed on Cotton Rag, 30cm x 40cm, 2025
I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
FOR AS LONG as anyone can remember, certainly much before Wordsworth saw daffodils “dancing in the breeze,” people have been uplifted when they see flowers. Across different cultures and times, a single bloom can make someone pause, smile, or feel at ease.
Just ask a flower-delivery person—few jobs are met with more happiness. Whether at a doorstep, in an office, or down a quiet hallway, the flowers they send appear as cheerful messages, bringing warmth from one person to another.
Flowers say what words sometimes cannot. They express birthday joy, friendship, thankfulness, celebration, and even sympathy. Flowers help us mark rites of passage and comfort us when we feel down. Most of all, they reflect the many sides of love, be it youthful, mature, hopeful, impossible, everlasting, or even tragic.
This first solo exhibition by photographer Ling Nan Ley uses that universal language. The Garden of Love invites you to explore how flowers can reveal the emotions that shape our hearts.
Inspired by celebrated couples such as Romeo and Juliet, Cleopatra and Mark Antony, and Salim and Anarkali, Ling Nan Ley’s black-and-white pairings are emotional portraits. As the introduction to the exhibition catalogue notes, “In every frame, you’ll sense how love’s story can be told without words; petals become whispers between lovers separated by time but united in feeling.”
Ling was born in Sarawak in 1960 and obtained a master’s degree in geology at the University of Durham. For many years, he studied the Earth, its layers, patterns, and evolution, and worked as a geologist in government service, retiring as a senior director.
“Captivated by the richness and artistry of God’s splendid creation”, he also took up nature photography during his days at college. This became another big part of his life, a calling that has grown stronger with time. He is fascinated by how light shapes forms, for example, making flowers appear both real and slightly abstract. Over time, he has showcased his work in numerous local and international exhibitions, consistently refining his gentle, thoughtful style.
In the end, The Garden of Love is more than just a display of black-and-white flower photos. It celebrates how nature embodies our feelings, how flowers have always been with us in both happy and sad times, and how love, like a flower, remains timeless, delicate, and bright, even in shades of black and white. The following are the 11 exhibits.
Romeo and Juliet, printed on Cotton Rag, 30cm x 40cm, 2025: Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s most famous lovers, go against their feuding families for a love that seems bigger than anything else. Their secret marriage brings both happiness and heartbreak. Misunderstandings and fate lead to tragedy, but their devotion helps heal their divided community. Their story remains a timeless classic of young love, sacrifice, and the devastating consequences of family conflict.Cyrus and Cassandane, printed on Cotton Rag, 30cm x 40cm, 2025: Cyrus the Great, who founded the Persian Empire, loved his queen Cassandane with unusual tenderness for a king. Ancient writers say the whole empire mourned her death because Cyrus asked them to. Her loss deeply affected him and shaped his legacy. Their marriage is remembered for its respect and affection, showing early recognition of love in a royal family.Cleopatra and Mark Antony, printed on Cotton Rag, 30cm x 40cm, 2025: Cleopatra VII of Egypt and the Roman general Mark Antony formed a partnership built on charm, ambition, and love. Their relationship went against Rome’s political rules and became one of history’s most dramatic romances. When Octavian’s army chased them, they chose death over separation. Antony took his own life after hearing false news of Cleopatra’s death, and Cleopatra also died by suicide. Their story is remembered as a famous romantic tragedy, where love and politics were closely linked.Layla and Majnun, printed on Cotton Rag, 30cm x 40cm, 2025: In the Persian-Arabic tradition, Layla and Majnun are lovers who are forbidden from being together. Majnun, heartbroken for Layla, wanders the desert writing poems for her. Their families refuse to let them marry, turning their love into something spiritual and unreachable. Layla dies of sadness, and Majnun joins her in death after finding her grave. Their story is a lasting symbol of impossible love in the East, revered as a testament to pure and divine devotion.Napoleon and Josephine, printed on Cotton Rag, 30cm x 40cm, 2025: Napoleon Bonaparte and Joséphine de Beauharnais started as an unlikely couple. He was moving up in the military, and she was a sophisticated widow. Their passionate marriage influenced Napoleon’s early life, though both were unfaithful. This strained their relationship. Napoleon divorced Josephine to have an heir, but he continued to write about her with longing. Even in exile, he spoke her name. Their love, full of passion and complexity, lasted beyond their marriage and remained important to Napoleon.Emperor Nero and Poppea, printed on Cotton Rag, 30cm x 40cm, 2025: Nero and Poppaea Sabina’s relationship was marked by beauty, power, and a mix of ups and downs. Poppaea, known for her charm and political skill, became Nero’s wife after a difficult rise in the imperial court. Ancient sources describe their marriage as passionate, yet also marked by cruelty and instability. Poppaea died tragically while pregnant, and some say Nero was responsible. Their story is remembered as one of imperial glory mixed with tragedy.The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, printed on Cotton Rag, 30cm x 40cm, 2025: A well-known Chinese legend tells of Niulang, the Cowherd, and Zhinu, the Weaver Girl from Heaven. Their forbidden love angers the Goddess of Heaven, who separates them across the Milky Way. Once a year, magpies form a bridge so they can meet again. Their story, celebrated during the Qixi Festival, shows that love can overcome even the greatest barriers, both in the sky and on earth.Shah Jahan and Mumtaz, printed on Cotton Rag, 30cm x 40cm, 2025: Mughal emperor Shah Jahan loved Mumtaz Mahal so much that her death during childbirth broke his heart. To honor her, he built the Taj Mahal, a world-famous monument to love and loss. Their marriage was founded on companionship, trust, and mutual effort. Shah Jahan spent his last years in prison, looking at her tomb across the river. Their story keeps the memory of love alive through beauty and sorrow.John Lennon and Yoko Ono, printed on Cotton Rag, 30cm x 40cm, 2025: John Lennon and Yoko Ono built a partnership based on creativity, activism, and openness. They met through avant-garde art and soon became inseparable, challenging social norms with their peace campaigns, music, and performances. Their relationship faced a lot of public attention but stayed strong. After Lennon’s death, Ono continued their artistic and humanitarian work. Their partnership mixed love, creativity, and activism, leaving a lasting impact.Salim and Anarkali, printed on Cotton Rag, 30cm x 40cm, 2025: Prince Salim’s famous love for Anarkali, a gifted courtesan, went against Mughal social rules. According to legend, Emperor Akbar ordered her death to keep political order, turning her into a symbol of love and sacrifice. Their story remains a powerful tale of beauty, rebellion, and doomed romance, inspiring many stories and monuments.Orihime and Hikoboshi, printed on Cotton Rag, 30cm x 40cm, 2025: In Japanese folklore, Orihime, the weaving princess, and Hikoboshi, the cowherd, fall so deeply in love that they forget their duties in the sky. The Sky King separates them on opposite sides of the Milky Way, letting them meet only once a year on Tanabata night if the skies are clear and magpies form a bridge. Their story shows longing and commitment, and is celebrated during Tanabata as a symbol of hope and devotion.
Curated by Stephen Menon, Ling’s first solo is being held at Artvoice Gallery, 28 Jalan Kovil Hilir, Sentul, 51100 Kuala Lumpur, from November 12 to December 12, 2025, 11 am to 6 pm. Please call +60 16-932 2877 for an appointment.
Attended by a large number of family, friends, and other photo enthusiasts, its launch on Sunday, November 17, was officiated by Malaysia’s art photography pioneer, Eric Peris.
