No reunion dinner? Malaysian lecturer 'cooks up' clay miniatures of her family's 12-dish meal

Miniature clay poon choy – a popular Chinese New Year dish consisting of different layers of meat, seafood and vegetables – designed by Chua. Photos: Martina Chua Swee Lin

When the government extended the second movement control order to Feb 18, Sarawakian lecturer Martina Chua Swee Lin, 48, knew she couldn't fly back to Miri to celebrate Chinese New Year with her loved ones.

"I was extremely disappointed that I'd be missing my family reunion dinner, the first time in 10 years. I will miss my family, especially my 88-year-old mother. I'll miss Sarawak's glorious food like Sarawak laksa, midin belacan (jungle fern shoot with shrimp paste), kolo mee, kacangma (motherwort chicken) and umai (raw fish salad)," said Chua, who lives in Sungai Buloh, Selangor.

To create some festive cheer, Chua decided to make miniature versions of the dishes served each year during her family's reunion dinner in Sarawak.

Chua completed her intricate 12-dish designs over one weekend, from sculpting, painting, baking to glazing.

Made from polymer clay, her designs feature 12 detailed items, including her mother's vintage charcoal steamboat pot, steamed fish, fried noodles and yee sang. She completed her intricate creations over a weekend, from sculpting, painting, baking to glazing.

"The miniatures are hand-sculptured out of polymer clay, which requires oven-baking at low temperatures. Although the clay comes in a variety of shades, I sometimes enhance certain pieces with acrylic paint and pastel colours. The most challenging part is adding tiny details into each piece. Because they are so small, it's very challenging for my not-so-young eyes to get all the details correctly done so that they look as realistic as possible."

Chua started working on miniature clay items since the first MCO in March last year. She honed her skills by going onto YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

Made from polymer clay, Chua's designs feature 12 items, including her mother's vintage charcoal steamboat pot, steamed fish, fried noodles and yee sang.

In the last 11 months, she's created a wide range of air-dry clay items, including jewellery, charm bracelets, miniature handbags, wine bottles and food.

"I'm a foodie. I teach food and beverage as a profession, and constantly talk about what and where to eat good food. During the first MCO, I was craving for certain foods so I started creating all the food I craved for in miniatures. This new-found hobby definitely made #dudukrumahdiamdiam more bearable," said Chua, who encourages people to pick up a new hobby during lockdowns.

This year, Chua and her partner will have a quiet Chinese New Year at their home. But food will still be in abundance, including yee sang, stir fried abalone and leek, homemade siew yoke (roasted pork belly) and fish.

"Even though I am feeling sad that Chinese New Year will be subdued, I am hopeful that if we all stay in our own little bubble and stick to the strict standard operating procedures, we will be able to flatten the Covid curve. Let’s #stayhome #staysafe.”