00:00Ronnie Chin sees making lion heads as more than an art form.
00:05He says it is a way of preserving Chinese cultural tradition.
00:09The chairman of the Lin Heng Wushu Association in Kuching
00:11is one of a few Sarawakian master crafters of lion heads.
00:16He learned the craft as a teenager through his involvement in lion dance performances
00:20alongside his father, who was part of a lion dance association.
00:25Although he had been making lion heads for years,
00:27Chin only began selling them in 2017
00:30after receiving interest from customers who admired his work.
00:34Today, he runs his own lion head brand through the Wushu Association,
00:39with customers across Malaysia as well as in China and the United States.
00:44Last year, Chin recorded a total of 56 orders and currently employs six staff members.
00:51He is also guiding and training young people in lion head making
00:54to encourage more Sarawakians to learn and continue the craft.
00:58Chin says the process of handcrafting a lion head involves four stages,
01:03beginning with shaping a frame using rattan strips.
01:07Fabric and paper are then pasted onto the frame and left to dry,
01:11followed by hand-painting the design.
01:13The final stage involves adding the lion's features,
01:16including the eyes, fur and other decorative elements.
01:19Completing a full costume takes eight to ten days,
01:23depending on weather conditions.
01:25Prices range from 1,800 ringgit to 2,800 ringgit,
01:30with extra charges for special designs.
01:33Chin says he enjoys art and being creative,
01:36finds satisfaction in completing every piece,
01:39and draws fresh inspiration for each new creation.
01:49To be continued...
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