Born in 1931, Choo Keng Kwang is widely recognized for realistic renditions of landscape, animals and nature in the oil medium. Sympathetic to local working classes, Choo features them in many of his works. Graduating in 1953 from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), he worked as a teacher, eventually returning to NAFA to helm the Art Education Department in 1984. Choo has since held many solo exhibitions and has participated in group art exhibitions in Southeast Asia, Japan, Europe and USA. Since the 1950s, Choo has received many awards for his many contributions to art and education, among which is the Public Service Medal (PBM) in 1976.In 1966, Choo won the first prize in the Art Around the World Exhibition for his painting of a lantern maker. As such, this later work of two lantern makers holds special meaning for him. Traditionally, Chinese lanterns served as markers for different significant events in Chinese households such as births, deaths, marriages, Chinese New Year and Mid Autumn Festival. As lantern makers are rarely found in Singapore today, Choo’s paintings of traditional trades are invaluable records of days past. A characteristic feature of Choo’s painting in which he blurs the details in the background is evident in this painting.
