Singapore is a city-state with one of the highest concentrations of people – and of millionaires – in the world. The city also has a magnetic attraction for immigrants, many of whom come from China. Some have lived in the region for generations now and no longer speak their original language. Others are new, and wrestle with a sense of rootlessness and disorientation. In a series of video confessions they speak about their lives and future in a land that has mixed feelings about their presence.

The word 'monsoon' comes from the Arab mausim, which stands for seasons and the prevailing wind directions connected with them. The monsoon determines the agenda for most of Southeast Asia, particularly in the agricultural and tourist sectors. The sudden, heavy rains make the region one of the most fertile in the world. At the same time, the absence of modern infrastructure means they lead to flooding and impede the mobility of those living in the region. Sherman Ong photographed MONSOON (2005) from a moving automobile. He left the window closed. The result is a poetic impression of the season that radically affects both the psyche and the landscape of Southeast Asia.