Choo Keng Kwang | 朱庆光 (b. 1931, Singapore) is known for his oil paintings of landscapes, street scenes, animals and nature. His paintings are grounded in realism, although he also works with elements of impressionism.
Choo took an interest in fine arts as a child and was encouraged to pursue this by his father. While he was attending the Catholic High School, he enrolled in art courses at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied under Lim Hak Tai, Koh Tong Liong and Cheong Soo Pieng. He graduated in 1953 with two certificates, the latter a Diploma in Fine Arts. Choo practised art simultaneously as he pursued a career in public education. He was principal of Sin Hua School before heading the Art Education Department of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Choo is public-spirited and engages in philanthropic work, donating his paintings to raise funds for charity.
For his contribution to art and education, Choo was conferred the Public Service Medal (1976) and the Long Service Award (1986). In 2015, he was acknowledged by the National Arts Council and National Heritage Board’s SG50 Pioneering Contributions to the Arts and Heritage of Singapore.
Choo’s paintings have been commissioned by royal families and government bodies as gifts to foreign dignitaries, as well as by institutions and corporations. He has been exhibited in Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Europe and the United States of America. Choo’s works are collected by museums, local government bodies, corporations and private collectors.