Lion Dance figurines crafted from clay, with plywood used for the diorama platform. Photos: Low Lay Phon/The Star
There's no denying that orchestrating Chinese New Year celebrations demands thoughtful planning and preparation, ensuring every detail reflects the richness of tradition and the spirit of the festive season.
For Foo Loke Kee, popularly known as “Mr Foo,” the journey to “shrink” the grandeur of Chinese New Year into miniature form has been nearly six years in the making. With precision and passion, the skilled craftsman, who is also the founder of World Culture Organisation (WCO), has dedicated the past few months to perfecting his latest diorama series.
This intricate collection not only captures the essence of ancient Chinese New Year traditions but also charts their evolution, culminating in the vibrant celebrations of modern-day Malaysia. Each tiny detail serves as a bridge between eras, honouring a timeless heritage in a form both nostalgic and innovative.
The festive WCO diorama project is on display at Pavilion Damansara Heights in Kuala Lumpur as part of the “Heights of Happiness” Chinese New Year showcase. This exhibit – in miniature splendour – offers visitors a chance to explore the celebrations, food, traditions, and vibrant colours of the Lunar New Year.
A diorama of a Tang Dynasty banquet (618-907 AD), a period when lion and dragon dances were incorporated into celebrations.
Spanning 28m in length, the diorama series, themed “Bringing Happiness To Life”, is the first time WCO is showing its CNY works as a full collection.
The free admission exhibition, running through Feb 12, is located at the Damanlela Main Entrance (on Level 2) of the mall.
“The ‘Five Dynasties Banquet’ and ‘Old Beijing’ dioramas took three years to complete, the ‘Malaysia Cultural Diorama’ required two years, and ‘Journey To The West’ was finished within a year,” shares Foo in a recent interview in KL.
He keeps a mental note of the diorama’s timelines, often marvelling at how his WCO team has managed to stay on track despite the project’s demanding nature, which requires extensive research, meticulous craftsmanship, and constant improvisation.
The exhibition, handcrafted in every detail, is presented at a 1:35 scale.
“The exhibition includes five sets of the ‘Five Dynasties Banquet’, 14 sets of ‘Old Beijing’, three sets of ‘Journey To The West’, and 18 sets of ‘Malaysia Chinese New Year Celebration’ dioramas,” he adds.
The exhibition, handcrafted in every detail, is presented at a 1:35 scale.
“When viewed as a whole, the exhibition captures the joyful spirit of Chinese New Year while encouraging audiences to connect with its rich heritage. It has been a rewarding journey for us, especially considering the extensive time spent ensuring the dioramas are historically accurate,” says Foo, who established WCO in 2017.
A journey back in time
The exhibition begins with the 'Five Dynasties' section, taking visitors back to ancient China. It showcases lavish banquet scenes, filled with intricate details. Miniature banquet tables, adorned with traditional dishes and festive decorations, highlight the opulence and hospitality central to Chinese New Year traditions.
“A lot of research went into creating this section. We (craftsmen and researchers) start with a preliminary discussion to finalise the diorama’s size and concept. After selecting the base material, usually plywood, we plan the figurine characters and environment, dividing the work into two parts. Quality control is handled separately for the figurines and the environment to ensure the highest standards,” says Foo.
Foo is grateful that there is still an audience willing to lean in, take their time, and appreciate the intricacy of each diorama set.
The China sections of the diorama were created by a team of five craftsmen from WCO, with additional support from Chinese artisans who provided expertise on ancient architecture and clothing.
As visitors make their way across the exhibition space, they are transported to the enchanting world of Old Beijing.
The dioramas, with their meticulously recreated iconic architecture and bustling streets, evoke the essence of a time long past. The lively markets, teeming with activity, and the narrow hutongs – the city’s traditional alleyways – breathe life into the cultural pulse of the era.
If you missed Red Hong Yi’s festive season Once Upon A Longtang installation, which celebrated the Shanghai hutongs at the National Art Gallery in 2023, you may appreciate a miniature version of Beijing from WCO that captures the sights and spirit of a capital city where history and tradition intertwine.
CNY, Malaysian style
Closer to home, the Malaysia Chinese New Year section highlights the unique way Malaysians celebrate the holiday. Featuring scenes of lion dances, street parades, and family gatherings, the dioramas beautifully showcase the harmonious blend of Chinese heritage and Malaysian identity.
“I was born in Ipoh and grew up in KL, experiencing Chinese New Year celebrations in both places,” says Foo.
“The lion dances and scenes from my childhood have deeply influenced this section. Through these dioramas, I hope to evoke nostalgia in Malaysians and share our culture with visitors from abroad,” he adds.
He also highlights his “kampung days” inspiration behind the Malaysia Chinese New Year dioramas, which feature small-town scenes, including family reunions.
Foo explains that the inspiration for the dioramas comes from his ‘kampung days’.
At 50, Foo acknowledges that dioramas are a testament to the dedication and artistry of their creators, a rare craft due to the long hours required to build each set and the decline of skilled artisans. All the dioramas on display at Pavilion Damansara Heights were built in Kuala Lumpur.
In a world dominated by projection mapping and screen culture, he is grateful that there is still an audience willing to lean in, take their time, and appreciate the intricacy of each diorama set.
More than anything, the dioramas serve as a cultural connection, inviting visitors to explore the depth of Chinese traditions and their evolution over time. They also aspire to inspire a new generation of artisans to pursue dioramas and other traditional crafts.
“It can be very challenging to produce dioramas of this scale. Many of the craftsmen involved are older and facing health issues. I worry that their skills will fade into extinction if not passed on,” says Foo, who is planning to take his diorama projects to the masses.
The exhibition also features scenes of small-town life, inspired by Foo’s Chinese New Year experiences in the villages of Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur. – Photos: LOW LAY PHON/The Star
With Hari Raya just around the corner and many other festivities to look forward to throughout the year, Foo is set to unveil more dioramas for the public.
“Through the WCO Cultural Gallery in Batu 9, Cheras, we aim to bring these artworks into commercial spaces, allowing both locals and tourists to appreciate the uniqueness, originality, and elegance of Malaysia’s diverse art, culture, and heritage, as part of the lead-up to Visit Malaysia 2026,” he concludes.
The Bringing Happiness To Life diorama series runs until Feb 12 at the Damanlela Main Entrance (Level 2), Pavilion Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur. Free admission.
