Following his passion for lanterns

Looi all smiles showing some of his handmade lanterns. — Photos courtesy of Yean Chee Hoong and Tang Lung Pak Pak Facebook page.

LOOI Huat Chiang has always been very passionate about the animal-themed lanterns loved by children during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Seven years ago, the 81-year-old restarted his hobby of making the lanterns. Since then he has handcrafted over 300 colourful lanterns, with no two alike.

His daughter, Janice Looi, 37, said he really enjoyed making the lanterns.

“Using his imagination or referring to photographs, he twists a wire carefully to shape the designs for every lantern before painting them.

“I would describe my father as an artistic person. He enjoys taking time to do the lanterns,” she told MetroPerak, as her father took time off to rest.

“He is also a perfectionist and will only work on the lanterns based on his mood,” she said.

An intricate swordfish lantern.

 

“But he always puts in 100% effort and will also think of ways to perfect the lantern, so that the children won’t burn it easily,” he added.

She said among the designs her father created were flying fish, swordfish, rabbit, squirrel, swan and eagle.

“He has also made some in the shape of flowers and the more traditional octagonal lanterns.

“It was only recently that I managed to convince him to make lanterns inspired by mythical creatures,” she said.

“So, he presented to us the pegasus and dragon lanterns,” she said, adding that Huat Chiang also created lanterns that used both light bulbs and candles.

A Pegasus lantern.

 

“Another unique design he did was a rabbit with a moveable head,” she added.

Janice said her father is a multi-talented man, as he was a locksmith in his younger years.

“There was also a period when he sold fishing tackle accessories during the day and satay by night.

“Fishing is his other hobby, and he used to own a shop selling birds and fishes, which is why most of the lanterns he makes are animals,” she said.

Janice said her father learnt how to make lanterns when he was 12.

Looi carefully twisting the wires to sculpt a dragon-motif lantern.

 

“He visited a lantern festival celebration in Penang and was attracted to it.

“He bought a few back to Ipoh and learnt how to make them by himself,” she said.

“He made a few and sold them, but stopped doing that as he grew older. He only picked up the hobby again in 2010,” she said.

Janice said he then began making a lot of the lanterns for his grandchildren until there were no space to keep them.

“Some were given away while I also sold some.

“By word of mouth, his lanterns soon got the attention of other people,” she said.

Looi’s masterpieces in various animal designs displayed at his home in Menglembu, Ipoh.

 

Following the popularity, Janice’s friend even set up a Facebook page called ‘Tang Lung Pak Pak’ (Lantern Uncle) and the response was overwhelming.

“He has gotten a lot of messages with some wanting to learn the art from him while most wanted to buy his work,” she added.

She added that a developer in Penang wanted to order the lanterns in bulk for its Mid-Autumn Festival celebration.

“They wanted about 300 but I told them it could be done as each lantern is handcrafted by my father, and he is doing this single-handedly.

“In the end, my father could only make 75 and the developer took all,” she said, adding that her father took about six months to complete the task.

“This is his hobby, not a business,” she added.

Janice said as his father was already in his 80s, she was also worried about his well-being.

Most of the lanterns created by Looi Huat Chiang are of animal designs.

 

“I’ve noticed that over the past few days, he seems lethargic.

“I am glad that the Mid-Autumn Festival is around the corner, which means he can take a break from making the lanterns,” she said.

“He will be going to Kuala Lumpur to celebrate the occasion with my family,” she added.

Janice said she still kept several of the lanterns made by her father.

“For this year, I got the rooster lantern.

“In conjunction with the Year of the Dragon and Monkey in 2015 and 2016 respectively, I got the respective zodiac-themed lanterns,” she said.

“I am still keeping these in my storeroom. They can really last,” she added.

She said her most memorable lantern created by her father was a bubble-eyed goldfish.

“I got it when I was a child. It was really nice, with 3D effect and not the flat-looking one. I have already requested for a similar one for next year,” she added.

The Mid-Autumn Festival or the Mooncake Festival will be celebrated on Oct 4.