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Published: December 9th 2013
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You won't believe it for a stay-at-home mum with a live-in helper, but I've had alot on my plate these past few months hence my lapse in writing my blog.
Before I carry on, here are the answers to the question in the previous blog:
Questions & Answers The Muslims, the Jewish and the Baha'i all wrap the dead body in white fabric before placing it in the coffin. In which religion do they use linen? Jewish In which religion do they use cotton? Muslim In which religion do they use silk? Baha'i Did any of you get it right?
Last time, I mentioned the Qing Ming Festival tour I went on earlier in the year which was guided by Diana Chua. Well in July, I tagged along to another of her tours entitled "Can Survive Lah!".
It was fascinating and sad at the same time as we visited three family owned businesses, one of which has now closed down. Hence the title. When asked "how's business?" the owners' reply is simple: "Can survive lah!"
These are family businesses which have been going for generations and are now disappearing due high rents, lack
of demand or because the descendants aren't interested in carrying on with the family business.
Our first stop was at Thow Kwang Industry (or The Pottery Jungle) in the Jalan Bahar area, West of Singapore to visit one of two remaining dragon kilns on the island. The current owners' parents built the imposing kiln in what was once just jungle, next to a stream which provided an abundance of white clay ideal to supply clay cups to latex plantations in the area. In the last 18 months, new businesses have been sprung up around them; new roads have been built to replace what was once a pot-holed dirt road and the jungle is disappearing fast. They have had to demolish their home to make way for developers. The owners have also diversified their products & services, offering pottery courses at the weekend, in order to survive this squeeze from all sides and not bow to pressure to leave. It's a daily struggle to survive with minimal funding so they conduct tours and fire the kiln every few months, making it a grand community party!
Next, we travelled accross to a small industrial estate in Ang Mo Kio to
Pottery Jungle
The kiln is on a slant as heat rises towards the back meet Mr Amos Tay of Tay Guan Heng, 4th generation creator of joss-sticks figurines. Amos' father came up with the idea of crafting these figurines whilst working on the traditional, giant "dragon" joss sticks used at Chinese festivals.
25 years ago, a foreigner stopped and asked to buy one of the dragon figurines waiting to be stuck to the joss stick. From there grew the business of creating figurines to keep rather than just to be burnt.
At first glance, they appear to be made of dark wood but are in fact made from joss incense or wild cinnamon powder which becomes a dough or paste when mixed with water.
Amos started learning the craft aged 11 years old. He rolles out the incense paste fashioning a body around wire and uses scissors or a nife to sculpt or carve details.
The figurines are made to order, take 2 to 8 hours to make and cost upwards of S$35 - they can be shipped but it's best to place an order through me as shipping costs are huge! You can drop by the shop and watch the manufacturing process or Amos will give a talk form groups of 10 or
Pottery Jungle
Small opening where they feed the fire from more.
Yet, the figurines only account for 15% of the business so Amos fears this art may die with the old craft. There is a big question mark over who will take the business through next generations.
Tay Guan Heng Manufacturers is located in Block 4001, Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park (off Ang Mo Kio Av 10), 1030am-6,30pm. Best call 6454 1252 in advance to arrange a visit.
Incidentally on the same industrial park, another shop makes the large paper cars, boats, buildings...that are burnt at Chinese festivals. That's for another visit another time!
The last business we visited on the tour was that of Eng Chek Hong Jeffrey's shop which promoted and sold Chinese opera artifacts and props since 1937. Sadly, Jeffrey's shop closed at the end of July. His brother had already left the family business to become a taxi driver to make ends meet.
Jeffrey's store was a treasure trove filled with costumes, gongs, crowns, fake hair, mandolins, spears, feathers, masks, make up, buttons, gloves, headresses, moustaches, artefacts. His enthusiasm for his trade was infectious and before long, he had us all touching decades old hand-made silk opera costumes with gold threads and rabbit fur trimmings.
He showed us how the garments were worn, how the gongs were played to obtain different atmospheres on stage, how to flick a fan to make a swish sound and have more impact. He mentioned he sold more fake moustaches now in November for Movember! Check out my pictures to get some idea. It reminded me of my grand-mother Maman Luce's house in places.
This was a truely fascinating tour away from the well-trodden usual expat path.
I have so much more to tell you on Black & White Houses, Shop Houses, Cambodia, Julia's school, Singapore, for another time. Soon!
Please let me know if you would like me to add anyone to my blog mailing list.
Delphine
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