At the Porridge Stall

At the Porridge Stall diorama, Made In Penang Interactive Museum (6 May 2014)


At the Porridge Stall is one of the latest miniature dioramas installed at the Made In Penang Interactive Museum. It depicts a typical Teochew porridge stall, and is supposed to have been modelled after the one along McNair Street in George Town. There is still one such eatery in George Town today, Kedai Kopi Bee Hong on Magazine Road.

At the Porridge Stall diorama depicts a porridge hawker at work while surrounded by middle-aged male customers, the typical patrons of such stalls. This happens by the roadside in front of a wall of corrugated iron. Typical of labourers and trishaw pedalers in the Seven Street Precincts, these Uncles sat on stools placed over benches, an acrobatic feat to others but another day in the life for them.

At the Porridge Stall diorama continues miniature sculptor Khoo Chooi Hooi's signature brand of mersmerizing details. Observe the expression on the face of the seller, as one of his patrons stood up on the bench, towering over the food. Watch the appearance of every customers as they are engrossed in their meal. Note the details, right down to the blue painted fish design on the rice bowls. I love the appearance of one of the customers with his mouth open to receive the food from his chopsticks! It's yet another Khoo Chooi Hooi masterpiece.

The hawker, close-up, At the Porridge Stall diorama (15 April 2014)


The hawker, close-up, At the Porridge Stall diorama (15 April 2014)


Diagonal view of At the Porridge Stall diorama (15 April 2014)


The stools-on-bench seating arrangement at Kedai Kopi Bee Hong (12 December 2014)

Made In Penang's Dioramas and Made In Penang Interactive Museum