June 19 – July 2, 2015
3
HOME
www.TheEpochTimes.com
Photos Courtesy of tom choo
Choo Keng Kwang
Exclusive Interview with Singapore’s Renowned Pioneer Artist
Choo Keng Kwang is a renowned first-generation artist in Singapore.
This is Singapore By Li Yen & Won Xue Li Epoch Times Staff On the walls of artist Choo Keng Kwang’s studio hang a plethora of his oil paintings ranging from Chinatown scenes and doves to a beautiful Balinese dancer. An unfinished painting of a scenic paddy field sits on the floor. “His eyesight is not very good now. He can finish this painting in 1-2 weeks when he is young. But this painting is still not done after two years,” says Mr Choo’s nephew – Tom Choo. Born in 1931, Choo Keng Kwang is a renowned first-generation artist in Singapore, along with Georgette Chen and Liu Kang. His oil paintings fetch six-figure sums today, and his collectors include prominent figures such as the first moon-landing astronaut Neil Armstrong, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, and the late President Ong Teng Cheong. Also a philanthropist who supports education for young people and the less fortunate, through the sale of his oil paintings, Mr Choo has helped raise funds for charitable organisations, the education of a young musician, the building of a school and even some
community centres. “I dare to say I am the Singaporean artist who donated the most paintings to charities,” says Mr Choo proudly. Mr Choo is amiable and disarmingly frank. He is not afraid to talk about his achievements and offers incredible insights into his paintings. He and his nephew, Tom Choo, generously share with us oil painting tips. As for his motto in life, he says with a chuckle, “No, I don’t have one. I just live life in a muddleheaded way.” The Beginning Mr Choo’s passion for Fine Art started when he was just a child. His interest was sparked from the comics and cartoons he liked to read and watch. The 84-year-old remembers vividly how his friends and school teachers at Catholic High School laughed at him when he was pursuing his passion in art at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. “Teachers and students at the school would laugh at me, saying that I was wasting my life away carrying a bag and hanging around here and there learning how to paint. At that time, barbers would carry a little bag, and I was also carrying one. They had combs in their bags while I
had paint tubes in mine,” he recalls. He adds, “I wouldn’t really care though. I was learning painting simply because I really liked it. It was not for making lots of money nor was it for pleasing others.” Despite criticism from school teachers regarding his pursuit of art, Mr Choo’s father – diamond trader Choo Kim Kye – provided him with tremendous support and encouragement. While his father was still alive, he would accompany his son to his painting spots – and would even hold an umbrella over his head. Mr Choo did not follow the path of a full-time artist upon his graduation from Catholic High School and NAFA in 1953. He began as a teacher and principal at Sin Hua School and was the Head of Art Education at NAFA from 1984 until his retirement. Despite his teaching commitments, he would spend his free time and afternoons after work doing what he loves – painting. However, he delved into a cheaper art form – woodblock printing in his early years – as the materials for oil painting were expensive. “In my early days, I painted workers, strikes, businessmen, and I carved the 513 incident,” he says. One of his most controversial
woodblock printings is the “13th May Incident”, which depicts the lesser-known 513 incident in 1954. In the 513 incident, students protested the British authorities over the issue of national education, which resulted in a violent clash with policemen that left over 20 people injured and 48 students arrested. Mr Choo considers himself a lucky artist. He sold his first work to an American who was the CEO of a bank. “He bought one of my paintings and assigned me to work on a project doing mural paintings for Merlin Hotel. That marked the turning point of my life. It was the very first mural commission that changed my life and I did make lots of money from it,” he reveals. His Paintings Artist Choo Keng Kwang is famous for painting scenes of old Chinatown and doves. Mr Choo’s oil paintings look romantic and beautiful at first glance, with a strong nostalgic vitality that will appeal to the masses. “My paintings are easier to understand, unlike abstract paintings,” echoes Mr Choo. Continued on next page