Khoo Chooi Hooi, Miniatures Sculptor

Khoo Chooi Hooi and his alter ego (2 November 2013)


Khoo Chooi Hooi is a master sculptor of miniatures. Although the name might not right a bell for most people, most who have seen the dioramas created by Khoo could not help but be impressed.

I first learned about Khoo Chooi Hooi's art when he created a set of dioramas depicting scenes in inner George Town. Khoo vividly captured scenes from various parts of George Town, including the street-side stall along Transfer Road, the Chinese porridge stall at Magazine Road, New Light (the Indian barber at the junction of Market Street and Queen Street), and the row of shophouses along King Street. He is renowned for the painstaking details in his figurines as well as in capturing patterns and textures that are ultra realistic. Mr Khoo is incredibly low profile, and usually prefers not to shy away from admirers.

Khoo Chooi Hooi's diorama of a porriage stall (7 June 2004)


One of the most impressive diorama that Mr Khoo has created is the scene of the George Town Waterfront at the turn of the 20th century. When the Made In Penang Museum was being planned, Khoo was roped in to create a few new dioramas. The Diorama Gallery on the ground floor of the museum showcases some of his new works as well as those which he made many years ago, but is exhibiting for the first time.

The most impressive and awesome piece of diorama Khoo Chooi Hooi has made is the one depicted the George Town Waterfront at the turn of the 20th century. That piece took one year of working on-and-off in order to complete, and is a breathtaking masterpiece.

Khoo Chooi Hooi's waterfront diorama (2 November 2013)


Khoo himself was immortalized on a mural when a fellow artist, Willy Loh, featured him on the mural he painted on the passageway of Made In Penang Museum. Visitors will get to see his likeness standing beside a ricksaw.

List of Miniatures by Khoo Chooi Hooi

Khoo Chooi Hooi(right) with Tim (2 November 2013)

List of Outstanding Penangites