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Mr Choo generously hands us ‘The Selected Works of Choo Keng Kwang’, a book that features over 180 works from Mr Choo’s repertoire in a period of over 50 years.

From his beloved doves to his muse, Chinatown, his Nanyang-style works feature a wide array of subjects in various countries, made in woodcuts, oil and batik-style painting. There is history in all these paintings. The book also celebrates his artistic dedication and contributions to the community at large.

He shows us his paintings of old Chinatown, which capture nostalgic scenes of the wet market for wild animals, the roasted pork shop which people patronised when their daughters got married, and the funeral parlours along Sago Lane, also dubbed “Sei Yang Gai” (Street of the Dead), amongst others.

“Chinatown was one of my favourite themes. I was the first artist to portray Chinatown. To create a moving painting that depicts Chinatown, you need to know about the people there: What are their lives like? What kind of clothes do they usually wear? What types of stuff are they selling? Therefore, I always hung around Chinatown to study my subjects. I always carried my bag there and painted on the spot, thus I think most of the residents in Chinatown know me,” says Mr Choo with a smile.

After the old Chinatown was demolished, he switched to painting doves. “I rear doves at home,” says Mr Choo. “It is easier, since I can paint doves at home,” he adds.

“It is hard to paint white doves, as it is difficult to illustrate the different shades of white,” his nephew Tom asserts. “White is the most difficult colour to illustrate. At first, it looks like a dirty dove. White is very hard to paint,” Mr Choo reaffirms.

Tom explains that in Mr Choo’s dove paintings, the backgrounds are always misty and the doves are looking at one another, and they seem to be communicating. The doves are drawn in

different postures and they are composed to look natural.

“My uncle’s style is a blend of West and East. He used the technique in Chinese painting to render these tree branches in the dove paintings, but blended in Western colours and shading,” Tom points out.

“In Chinese painting, you seldom see tropical flowers, but my Uncle included Southeast Asian flora in his dove paintings, which make [the most unique combination] of all,” he adds.

Mr Choo has also painted Little India, Angkor, Bali and Guilin Zhangjiajie.

“I have been to Bali 10 times!” exclaims Mr Choo.

Art Uplifts One’s Character Mr Choo believes that art serves to uplift one’s spirit and nature.

“Art can beautify life and tame one’s character. Once, I knew a young man who was a gangster and no one could help him. The teacher sent him to art school, and after one or two years of painting, he did not have a temper anymore. Instead, he became a teacher, and I was even taught by him! Art hones one’s patience,” recalls Mr Choo.

Both Mr Choo and Tom strongly agree that art is related to one’s inner character, and believes that the goodness and beauty of an artwork is dependent on the moral character of the artist.

“If a person has a good character, he will paint good art. It shows in a person’s handwriting too,” says Mr Choo. “Art is an expression of what’s inside the person. Nobody can replicate what Van Gogh

paints, for example. It is highly related to one’s inner world,” Tom continues.

Art is seen everywhere and can be applied anywhere. Mr Choo says, “Artistic detail can be seen in daily life. Some people simply dress themselves up too strangely, and there is a lack of artistic sense in that.”

“That’s modern art. The mentality now is: ‘I will do things that others don’t dare to do’ and to challenge others. It doesn’t matter if it is low quality art; all that matters is that I’m sending a statement,” Tom adds.

Local Art Scene According to Mr Choo, Japanese students will understand terms like “impressionism” and “abstract art”, but the situation is quite different here.

“We do not have a very solid system to begin with. You see, in Singapore’s education system, from primary school, secondary school to JC, our students are not encouraged to study art as it is not the main subject. Students are mainly exposed to pop art, and when they enrol in Poly, they will be studying Advertising Design, Graphic Design instead of Fine Arts. Normally, you won’t want to be a full-time artist or paint to make a living. This is the culture we received, so rela-tively, it is a very difficult society,” laments Tom.

Tom also contends, “In Europe, it’s so easy to be inspired by the great art galler-

ies. In Singapore, there are so few. How often can you have an exhibition in Sin-gapore?”

Mr Choo adds, “And the course fee is re-ally high. My grandson studies in NAFA, and the course fee is $9,000 for three months. If you want to enrol in NAFA, but if you don’t have the money, how can you pursue your interest?”

Advice to Aspiring Artists Mr Choo adopts a happy-go-lucky outlook in life, and advises budding artists to not think about the money and fame that they will make from their art. In the opinion of Mr Choo, interest is more important than talent.

“Paint because of your interest and you would be successful one day. If you’re not hardworking, and get jealous of how much others make, it’s no use. Don’t paint for the sake of fame,” he advises.

“If an artist always paints the same topic all his life, I feel that this artist has no future. It is like you fry the same ‘hor fun’ every day. People will get tired. You must always make progress, then people will invest in your paintings,” Mr Choo further emphasises.

This Is Singapore is a fortnightly feature that delves into the lives of inspiring and talented individuals in Singapore. Read all our interviews here: http://bit.do/thisissingapore

HOME Epoch TimEs4 JunE 19 – July 2, 2015

Wed 24 to Tues 30 June 2015Venue: ION Art Gallery, Level 4

Following Choo Keng Kwang’s footsteps, his daughter Choo Ai Loon and nephew Tom Choo Chear Meng have developed an interest in painting since young.

Ai Loon has a deep passion for various orchids. Her painting of orchids are cap-tivating and she is regarded as the best oil painter of orchids in the region.

Nephew Tom Choo is a self-taught art-ist whom Choo Keng Kwang has given personal guidance to.

The joint Arts Exhibition of Choo Keng Kwang, Choo Ai Loon and Tom Choo Chear Meng takes place at ION Art Gallery, Level 4, from 24 to 30 June 2015.

Be mesmerised by their masterpieces!

More details at www.datangfinearts.com

Choo Keng Kwang, Choo Ai Loon & Choo Chear Meng Arts Exhibition

Choo Keng Kwang’s oil paintings Choo Keng Kwang’s nephew - Tom Choo Chear Meng

Don’t paint for the sake of fame.Choo Keng Kwang, World Class Artist