Hawker Hues II captures cherished childhood Saturdays—those slow, golden mornings spent queuing at the hawker centre with Dad. Our go-tos were always the same: Fried Carrot Cake, Chicken Rice, and that unforgettable chilli sauce that stung and soothed all at once.

This painting is a sensory recollection of patient waiting: me keeping a cautious distance from the smoky, wheel-sized pan of the Chai Tow Kueh uncle, the stickiness of heat, and the quiet delight of the familiar. For some, spice is just flavour—but for us, it was joy, ritual, and a small, fiery reminder that life is always sweeter with a bit of heat.