The workshop of sculptor Pius Chong is strewn with sculptures at all stages, from untouched lengths of wood to intricately half-carved boards; from raw pieces of dense, jagged jade to to-be-bronzed clay forms.

The space is a workshop in its truest sense, where Chong works with his hands in his medium of choice for that day.

Chong said the physicality of sculpting is one of the aspects of his art he enjoys most.

“I still enjoy the material for what it is, for clay for bronze, for carving wood and stone,” he said, noting he’s especially interested in working with stone now. “I’m going to concentrate on B.C. jade now. It’s very interesting. Difficult, very slow.”

Patience is a virtue in sculpting, as is the acceptance of the fluidity of the art form.

That idea — the impermanence of state — is one idea reflected in Chong’s book Fahcheong: the Art Book, which launches Tuesday at the library. Acceptance of the natural progression of ideas, art and life itself is one of the qualities reflected in Chong’s sculptures and conversation with the Herald.

“I can sound flippant,” Chong said with a laugh.

The sculptor didn’t always have such a philosophical point of view; Chong grew up the 12th of 13 children in a “staunchly Catholic family” in Singapore.

He studied to be a teacher and after about a year in the profession fell into sculpting.

“My main option was teaching art. The principal happened to cut down some logs and trees around the school, making way for his idea of improvement. So, we had lots of wood, and he asked me, ‘Why don’t you get the students to do some carving?’ It was a case of me trying to learn one step ahead of students, telling them what to do,” Chong said.

Although Chong has never been to a formal art school, it didn’t take long for him to decide to pursue art full time.

He left teaching to pursue philosophy and political science at the National University of Singapore. It was there he met his wife Anne.

In 1989, the couple left Singapore. Having visited Anne’s cousin who was living in Merritt at the time, the pair settled on the Nicola Valley as their new home.

“I initiated getting out of Singapore. In those early years, it was trying to find myself more than anything else,” he said, noting he partly blamed his restlessness on the city he was living in. “Canada has this expanse, this breadth, scope, in all senses of the word — mentally as well as physically. I think that was a natural evolution of my thinking and Canada contributed to that. We found no reason to go anywhere else. We’ve been here since.”

Chong said he enjoys living in Merritt, but his connection to Singapore remains strong.

In addition to his many works on public display in Singapore, Chong — who goes professionally by his Chinese name Fahcheong — has been featured in numerous exhibitions at the national art gallery of the Southeast Asian city-state over the years.

In fact, he is planning a return to Singapore in the coming weeks.

“If I have work, it’s there. I tell my friends, ‘If you see me back in Singapore, I’m working.’”

Through sculpture, Chong has carved a career path that’s taken him around the world, including to studios in Italy, Australia and Thailand. A glimpse into that life — and the thinking and creative process behind it — is afforded in Fahcheong: the Art Book.

Chong said the book took about two years and plenty of collaboration with his wife and daughter to put together. However, Chong said even though his story as an artist so far is written, it’s not carved in stone.

“Over the years, things change. Essentially, I think I’ve been able to find myself, whatever it is to find yourself, to know yourself. For me, everything becomes questions, philosophy, essentially.”

The launch of Fahcheong: the Art Book starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the library and includes a conversation about art and more between Chong and fellow local artist Doug Strand.