He taught himself traditional Teochew crafts as a boy. More than 40 years later, he's still learning
Mr Francis Tan Kwee Chye began teaching himself traditional Teochew crafts at nine years of age, improvising with chocolate wrappers, scrap wood and a penknife. More than four decades later, he is still making, learning and trying to pass on a craft with a dwindling number of practitioners.
Francis Tan Kwee Chye began teaching himself traditional Teochew crafts at the age of nine, using everyday materials like chocolate wrappers, scrap wood, and a penknife. Over four decades later, he continues to create, learn, and share this craft, which is becoming increasingly rare. At the Sean Hua Zee Temple, where he lives and works, Tan meticulously rubs gold leaf onto wooden signs, willing himself to work through the heat without the use of a fan.
His impressive skills are largely self-taught, with no formal apprenticeship or guidance. As a child, he was exposed to crafts through temple performances and street operas, starting his first project at age 12 - a miniature dragon. Despite facing challenges and receiving little formal training, Tan has persevered, creating intricate wood carvings, temple lanterns, and paper effigies.
His mother was supportive throughout his journey, even if his dedication seemed unusual for his age. At 15, he joined a lion dance troupe, performing miniature Chinese opera masks for tour groups. After being retrenched from his drafting job, Tan continued his craft on the side, eventually turning it into his livelihood.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
