On land or water, the conditions of living and making a living are worlds apart. While exposed to the same weather conditions, the terrain and modes of transport are different though certain vessels are amphibious. But there is a romance over the floating world, with boats now thankfully propeller-driven instead of the manual oar, that afford mobility and trading opportunities. For some, the boats are both a mobile home and an office. Choo Keng Kwang likes to envelope his floating world in greenish hues, to set a late-day mood and also to exert a kind of Turner atmospheric treatment. In many parts of Southeast Asia, people live like water gypsies in floating villages of hutments built on stilts, while others just ply their wares on their boats circumventing the oft congested roads. Artist and educationist, Choo Keng Kwang is the Grand Old Man of Singapore Art. Turning 88 in June, Choo suffers from deteriorating eyesight. After taking afternoon classes at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art (NAFA) while studying at the Catholic High School, he served as principal of Sin Hua School and taught at NAFA before retiring as head of Art Education in 1986. He was awarded the Public Service Medal in 1976 and Long Service Award in 1986. He won 1st Price in the Asia-Africa Art Around The World competition and the 1983 National Day award, and was invited to take part in the Sultan of Brunei’s 47th birthday art exhibition in July 1993. His collectors include former China Chairman Mao Zedong, former Egypt president Anwar Sadat, former Singapore President Ong Teng Cheong, and moon-landing astronaut Neil Armstrong.