The work shows a couple perched on top of a durian tree. The male subject is a self-portrait of the artist and the female is based on the artist’s girlfriend. Puah was initially inspired by a painting by Tan Swie Hian called "If Only I Have a Durian Tree". In that work, Tan was looking back at his childhood where he longed to savour the fruits growing in his neigbhour's garden. Puah was first drawn to the durian subject with its deep local associations as the "king of tropical fruits", as well as memories of his own happy childhood spent at his grandparent's home at a kampong in Nee Soon where there were many durian trees. Here, Puah has reinterpreted the work, by inserting himself and his then girlfriend into the composition. The couple poses cheerily amidst the trees, each in their colour-perfect world. They do not seem to realize, and perhaps are unconcerned that they are dressed in detainee or prison uniforms. The latter is perhaps indicative that all is not well in paradise that the couple have found themselves in. This work continues with Puah’s interest in using self portraiture done in a colourful ‘pop’ style to explore certain personal dilemmas. It also marks his own artistic references. In this case, looking at the works by acclaimed local artist Tan Swie Hian. Tan’s works, have been in recent years, been cited by some younger artists, such as Raymond Lau and now Puah.
