EVERY inch of his rented shop in a double storey-building is filled with things, leaving only a narrow pathway to move in and out.
The shop is so messy with junks like old planks, wood and old furniture that you might even think that the tenant, Lee Teik Chye, is a compulsive hoarder.
But after spending some time to talk with him at No. 7, Lebuh Acheh in George Town, you will know that Lee, 64, is truly a master woodcarver.
He is that rare breed of craftsmen who has remained true to his ideals.
“For me, I do not compromise on quality. If my customer wants me to do a hurried job, I will turn him down. If I need to take two weeks to complete a job, I will not accept an offer to finish it by three or five days.
“I will have to cut corners and I don’t want to ruin my reputation. I only get satisfaction when I see that my work exudes a radiant finish,” Lee said when state executive councillor Yeoh Soon Hin, who is in charge of Tourism Development, Arts, Culture and Heritage, visited him recently.
Yeoh was accompanied by state Communications Director and Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s press secretary Yap Lee Ying and George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee during the visit.
Lee also showed them a wooden panel, measuring 2ft by 5.5ft, that he is currently working on for a Chinese businessman from Shanghai. When it is framed up, it will be 2.5ft by 6.5ft and the total cost is RM23,000.
“I will need six to seven months to finish this woodwork. It is not just to carve the man’s family name on the wood but also to inscribe intricate Chinese symbols and motifs,” Lee explained, showing the clouds, fishes, a bat, a lion’s head and a tiger’s head among the designs.
“There are craftsmen in China who use modern technology and machines but I think he prefers my handmade woodwork. The workmanship in China will be cheaper for him but money is not a problem for him.”
He said the Chinese businessman has commissioned him to create three sets after visiting his shop in Penang before Covid-19 pandemic.
Lee believes the man first saw his work through a video on YouTube which he said was posted probably by some tourists before flying in to Penang for some business as well as to visit him to talk about the price.
Using machine or robot, Lee said, could create a ‘perfect’ woodwork but for specialists like him, handmade woodwork has an enduring beauty that can be appreciated by those with experience and knowledge.
He recently made a 2ft x 4ft panel for a German banker who is based in Singapore. The panel has the German’s surname, Peter, on it.
Lee started to learn the art of carving from his father at the age of seven, thus giving him a strong foundation. His father was born in China’s Fujian province and his ancestors were mostly temple builders.
Since he came out to work at the age of 19, he has now about 45 years of experience working in carpentry and woodcarving.
Out of his four sons and two daughters, only the second eldest son, Lee Han Leng, showed some interest in following in his footsteps.
However, in 2001, a road accident that happened to him after his Form Five studies prematurely ended his career. A metal piece pierced through his neck and he was in coma for nine months. When he woke up and slowly recovered, he has blurred vision.
So, Lee is still now in the quest of finding an apprentice.
What he looks for in the apprentice, irrespective of race, is patience, endurance and a willingness to learn.
“I would like to impart my skills to another person as I am no longer young. I am not just a crafter but also a wood furniture restoration specialist.
“He must have certain qualities that I look for or else it will be a waste of time. Besides that, he has to buy some of my things like old cabinet or wardrobe so that I can teach him to restore them and also their market value. I will sell them to my trainee at a reasonable price.
“How fast he can start his business depends on how fast he can learn.
“If he is not able to buy some of my things, I can still impart the necessary skills and knowledge to him. But he must pay me for my services as this is my bread and butter.”
In the meantime, Lee is being helped by his wife, Leng Yiun Yee. She does a few odds and ends, like sanding the wood or applying gold leaves to the Chinese characters on the panel which usually has a black background.
Some of these signboards are hung on the door of Chinese homes or business houses.
During the visit, Yeoh was impressed with Lee’s meticulous work and expertise.
‘I’m here to give some support to Mr Lee. This art of woodcarving is a rare trade now.
“Under our George Town New Normal project, we are giving him RM3,000 to support his local business and to help him repair the back portion of his house.
“We feel that we need to encourage them to preserve this kind of cultural heritage,” Yeoh said before presenting Lee, a former Chung Ling High School student, two boxes of face masks.
For Lee, his wish is that he can get a bigger place to rent from the local council or government to continue to operate his business as the search for an understudy goes on. He has been operating his business at Lebuh Acheh for about 15 years.
As it is now, the shop is cluttered.
To a layman, the old damaged planks, for instance, hold no value and should have been discarded.
But in the hands of a master like Mr Lee, they can be turned into masterpieces.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan
