Petaling Street has long been an important hub for purchasing goods – from traditional medicines and herbs to flowers. In this warmly lit painting, bustling stalls offer a rich variety of foods, while the buildings exude a distinct, timeworn charm. With some of the shophouses dating back as early as 1880s, Chinatown continues to stand as a vital centre for food, culture, transport and wholesale trade in downtown Kuala Lumpur. Cheng Thak has been a fulltime artist ever since he graduated from Kuala Lumpur College of Art in 1989. His forte is with extolling the architectural heritage as livable abodes and in his own inimitable style of lush grandeur and romance. He also paints about the disappearing trades such as the itinerant roti man or pasembur hawker. He held his first solo called As I Was Passing at Hotel Istana, Kuala Lumpur in 1997 and among recent, Jalan-Jalan 2, was held at PinkGuy Gallery in 2022, and Festive Seasons at the same gallery in 2023. His works are held in the collection of corporations, hotels and private collectors.