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Works of Chia Yu Chian are often imbued with subtle messages even for an ostensibly innocuous Kuala Lumpur street scene painting. The Lebuh Pudu area is obviously a popular shopping hub, especially among the Chinese as can be seen from the prominent signboard advertising the Mona Hair Waving Saloon, and which has a side entrance on the right. The rambling architecture with canopies over the ground floor shop front is matched by the chaotic traffic situation in the public access area where cars vie with pedestrians for right of way.
This work depicting the lively junction of Lebuh Pudu and Jalan Tun H S Lee was done at a time when the area was earmarked for redevelopment, and was part of a series done by the artist then, documenting streetscapes and old buildings which he thought would soon be torn down. However, the Central Market in the vicinity survived demolition, being designated a heritage site, while Mona Hair Waving Saloon too, remains until this day.