Exhibited at the American Watercolor Society 156th Annual International Exhibition, 2023, and awarded the Barse Miller Memorial Award 2023.

In the early 1990s, as a young Architect; and as the Secretary of the Waterbodies Design Panel and the Singapore River Steering Committee, the artist was tasked with the urban renewal of the Singapore River.

The task included the revitalization of Boat Quay at the south bank of the mouth of the Singapore River, with its iconic shophouses and spectacular view of the River. It would be transformed from an area of godowns and warehouses to become an enclave of upscale alfresco dining.

The shape of Boat Quay resembled the belly of a carp which was believed to bring good fortune to the area. As part of his research, he took photographs and studied archival information of the area. The painting holds a special place in the heart of the artist, as it evokes past memories of his youth as a fledgling architect, when the shophouses were used as godowns and the banks of the river were abuzz with coolies loading and unloading bumboats.

The painting is executed on Arches 300gsm Watercolour Paper using Schmincke Horadam paints.