Teo recalls this work as possibly his first use of his newly invented art medium, “paperdyesculp”. The work pays tribute to the English musician and peace activist John Lennon who was assassinated in New York on 8 December 1980. The green wool line represents the tragedy of Lennon and the pink line of wool symbolised Lennon's wife Yoko Ono. The overall shape is of a hibiscus petal which was inspired by a stone found on the beach. Teo is included in what is now commonly known as the “Second-Generation Artists”, a term that covers Singapore artists active in the art scene from the 1960s onwards. The group includes artists such as Goh Beng Kwan, Choy Weng Yang, Anthony Poon and Thomas Yeo. This group of artists received training in art schools in Europe and America; their art approaches are thus strongly coloured by the artists’ international outlook on art styles and mediums. After teaching art in England for a few years (1968-1971), Teo returned to Singapore in 1971 to work at the Singapore International School (now the United World College of Southeast Asia), Singapore, where he eventually retired as head of its art department in 1996. For his contributions to art and art education, Teo was given the Cultural Medallion award (Visual Art) by the Ministry of Culture, Singapore in 1986.
