Lee posing with the dragon sculpture in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. — KT GOH/The Star
A MAGNIFICENT stainless steel dragon stands as a tribute by Lee Hong Kheun to his late wife.
Crafted entirely by hand and standing 1.5m, it required six months of painstaking effort and 10,000 meticulously assembled pieces.
“It is made out of a single sheet of stainless steel that was cut into individual profiles to make parts of the dragon.
“The pieces were then hammered into different shapes and welded together to form the dragon,” said 75-year-old Lee, at his home in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.
The dragon is positioned atop an artificial rock, striking a majestic pose.
Known as Logam Lee for his metalworking expertise, Lee’s attention to detail in crafting the dragon’s expression from its head, claws and proportions is evident.
“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful,” said Lee on his life philosophy.
He revealed that the choice of a dragon, coinciding with the Year of the Dragon, was significant.
“Before my wife’s passing two years ago, she had wished to contribute a dragon to a temple in Jawi in south Seberang Perai.
“This dragon was specifically made to fulfil her wish,” he said.
The veteran from Bukit Minyak recalled having contributed a similar stainless steel dragon to the same temple some 14 years ago.
“It was a 7m-long dragon in a horizontal position, so I decided to do a dragon in vertical form this time.”
The dragon not only fulfils Lee’s commitment to his late wife, Leong Lean Hoo, it is also a testament to their shared aspiration to contribute to the community.
