NST Online: StreetsJohor
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| Posted: 17 Jul 2011 10:52 AM PDT MAKING HEADS TURNA master craftsman who improvised the art of making lion heads shows his skills at an arts festival WEARING a black T-shirt and blue jeans, Master Siow Ho Phiew, 56, looked fighting fit. Sporting close-shaven hair and a flowing beard, he even resembled a traditional kung fu master or sifu.
The martial arts master and lion dance exponent has put Malaysia on the map in lion dance circles because of his made in Malaysia lion heads, which are manufactured by WSH Dragon & Lion Arts, a business founded by Siow. His skills in the art is keeping alive an important cultural legacy that is contributing to our cultural heritage.
He lifted the structure up to show how light this version is compared with traditional lion head frames that were made from bamboo strips. These lion heads have gained worldwide acceptance because they are not only lighter but more durable.
He became a kung fu master when he was 24 and by 30, he gave up farming to focus on his passion for lion dances. In 1978, Siow and some of his friends formed their Kok Ngai Lion Dance Troupe. But because the lion head from China was worn and beyond repair, they decided to create a lion head of their own. He remembered how he took apart an old lion head to uncover its structure and materials before modifying it to make his lion head with local materials. After experimenting with various materials, he discovered that using sustainable rattan and self-adhesive tape has inherent merits over traditional materials. His passion for lion dancing did not wane with his foray into creating lion heads. Instead, it developed further when he helped organise the first National Lion Dance Championship in 1983. He was also instrumental in organising the inaugural World Lion Dance Championship in 1984. "You can't change tradition!" Siow repeated the words of his critics who were doubtful about his work when he made an early version of his lion head. Making a lion head for one's troupe was interesting and fun, but to make it for others was something else altogether. So in 1986, Siow set up his lion head-making business and the demand for his lion heads, locally and abroad, gradually increased to about 500 heads a year. He has trained various Malaysian lion dance troupes such as the award-winning Kun Seng Keng troupe from Muar, the Kuan Loke troupe from Selangor, the Hong Tek troupe from Kedah, the Hong Tek troupe from Sabah and the Limbang Hong Tek troupe from Sarawak. Siow also trains overseas troupes from Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United States, Australia, Canada and Mexico. "When many people say my lion heads are good, then only will I acknowledge that they are good," he said. Some have pointed out that if his lion heads are so durable, then he will not have regular business. However, Siow is confident that his brand, known for its fine workmanship in handmade lion heads, will remain popular simply through word of mouth. When his exhibition opened at 49 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee earlier this month, it attracted many curious visitors. They included JB Arts Festival patron and member of parliament for Johor Baru, Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad, and the Teochew Eight Districts Association director Tan Chai Puan. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| All for the love of literature, history Posted: 17 Jul 2011 08:21 AM PDT All for the love of literature, historyMY strong interest in literature and history was sparked off during my school days at the Kluang High School. My proficiency in my school subjects, in particular Malay and English, was due to the teaching approach used by stern but dedicated teachers. Upon completing my upper secondary education, my passion for literature and history deepened after I was accepted as a teacher trainee at the Institut Perguruan Bahasa, a language institute.
I was a Malay language and history teacher in my first posting at the Simpang Ampat Secondary School in Perlis. My three-year stint there was indeed memorable. I set up literary and debating societies, language camps and organised essay-writing competitions for the students.
There, I met a group of language teachers, most of whom were in my age group. They were friendly and accommodating. Among them were the Yayasan Warisan Johor (YWJ) deputy director Md Ismail Zam Zam, fondly known as Zam Ismail, Karim Zahari, Rajendran R. Manickam and Ng Chin Tiong.
Zam Ismail was my closest compatriot. He was a diligent teacher and a writer of several Malay poetry books and novels. We frequently exchanged views on how to improve our teaching approach during free periods at the teachers' room. It was at SAB where I met my wife, Rokiyah Ismail, then a trainee teacher from Temenggong Ibrahim Teachers' College, Johor Baru. In the mid-70s, I moved to Kuala Terengganu after being offered the post of information technology education lecturer at the now defunct Pasir Panjang Teachers' College. Kuala Terengganu was Rokiyah's hometown and the lifestyle there during that era was cosy and easy-going. Nevertheless, my skills in language and history started to fade, though not seriously during my five years at the college. In 1983, I returned to campus life again, taking a course in Malay as a First Language (PBMP) at Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM), (now Universiti Putra Malaysia), Serdang. In 1986, after gaining an honours degree from UPM, I moved back to Johor Baru where I was the Malay Studies lecturer-cum-co-curriculum secretary at Mohd Khalid Teachers College (MPMK). As adviser to MPMK's clubs and societies, I frequently helped organised dramas, theatres, and performances. In 1994, Lady Luck was again on my side when I was granted the post of attache and consul at the Consulate of Malaysia and Malaysian Students' Department (MSD) in Melbourne, Australia. The posting, which spanned over three years, was indeed unforgettable. Memorable occasions included festive gatherings for Malaysian students, organising traditional Malaysian culture performances for the Australian community and visits by prominent Malaysian leaders. I resumed my duties at MPMK after my posting in Australia but it only lasted slightly more than a year as the college ceased its operations in 1999. It was closed because the premises did not meet the requirements of an advanced teachers training institute. An entourage of lecturers from MPMK, and I, crossed over to the nearby Temenggong Ibrahim Teachers Institute (IPTI), instantly doubling the strength of academic staff there. But my stint at IPTI was shortlived. The following year, I retired. Thanks to my friend Zam Ismail, I got a job at YWJ. This year is my 11th as assistant director and head of the Literary and Historical division of YWJ. Our division produces documents and publications on the history of the state's prominent figures, historical places, monuments and landmarks for the public. Recently, a group of YWJ researchers and officers from my division went to London for a 12-day working trip. The tour was sponsored by the state government. Among the places which we visited were the British Library and the grave of Datuk Seri Amar di Raja, a prominent figure during the reign of Sultan Abu Bakar, the founder of modern Johor. Dzul Karnain Asmawi lives in Taman Perling with his wife Rokiyah Ismail. They have two sons and a daughter. Interview by Syed Abdullah Syed Mohamed Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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