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.This work depicts the ubiquitous Indian sundry stall, commonly sited along building corridors and street corners in Singapore. Choo’s daughter, Ivy, who often accompanied him on his en-plein painting trips is the girl in the painting. The centrally placed subject matter is a compositional format adopted by Choo in many of his paintings.
