Press & Reviews

The Star - Thursday, December 28, 2007
By Looi Sue-Chern

When East blends with the West

IT WAS an ‘East meets West’ Christmas carnival when traders set up stalls for Christmas shoppers at the Little Penang Street Market in Upper Penang Road recently.

The Christmas sale had more to offer visitors than just the usual jingles and jangles of the Yuletide season.

Making the event unique was master puppeteer Md Shukri Edrus from the National Heritage Department and his wayang gadek puppets which had names like Pak Dogol, Wak Long, Ai Thong, Ai Keaw and Nunui.

At his wayang gadek workshop, curious children, parents and tourists gathered and listened as Shukri explained what it was all about.

An ancient shadow play using black puppets originally made from goatskin, wayang gadek is the easiest form of shadow play to teach and create, using only cardboard, bamboo sticks, thread and black spray paint.

MASQUERADE:The handmade-in-Penang masks of distinctive designs.

“The clown is the most important character in the story because it narrates the story, not the princes, princesses or the other characters,” the puppeteer told his audience as they sat down and got ready to make their own puppets with the ready materials.

Holding a wayang gadek workshop at a Christmas fair was unusual but Little Penang Street Market Committee acting director Ambiga Devy said that it was a good opportunity to combine all the local cultures in celebrating the festive season.

She said Shukri had to travel to Penang from Kuala Lumpur to conduct the workshop and give demonstrations.

“It is important for us to introduce this unique form of art to our children. They need to get to know the art because it is part of our country's heritage,” added Shukri, who is also a cultural researcher, author, illustrator and librarian.

Adding some Western touch to the Christmas shopping were Lemon Grass Flower House's made-in-Penang Venetian masks.

Handmade from hard card and silicon, the colourful, glittery and eye-catching masks by Lemon Grass owners Adren Ong and Lew Kah Mei (also known as Nozomi) were one of the star attractions at the market.

“We started making the masks after we received an order for 60 for a party. The order was cancelled later but we were already hooked. We enjoyed making them so much that the art turned into a passion,” explained Nozomi.

Appropriately branded after the Egyptian demon-god, Shezmu, the masks by Ong and Nozomi followed a ‘two-faced’ design concept.

“We have the Comedian Masks that show happy and sad emotions. These masks have more traditional designs,” said Nozomi.

Garnished with bright and colourful beads, feathers, sequins, laces and tiny bells, the masks were originally used to protect the wearers' identities during decadent activities in medieval Italy. Today, such masks are more like accessories that are part of the wearers' party costumes.

The masks, said Nozomi, were more comfortable to wear as they were soft on the inside and different from the original Venetian masks that were formed out of a single mould.

“Our masks are more three dimensional and each mask has its own distinct shape and design. We also custom-make masks for customers who want to match their gowns or costumes,” added Nozomi.

GOOD GIFTS:Shoppers crowding stalls offering
a variety of items at the Christmas Sale.

The stall also showcased the most unusual-looking dolls – all designed and handmade by the flower house's co-owner Ooi Yin Yin.

Inspired by everyday life and princes and princesses in stories, Ooi's dolls are in a class of their own. Resembling small pillows with legs and arms, the dolls have exceptionally large heads and small faces.

“The dolls need big heads because they are intelligent and imaginative. They need the space for their brains,” explained the 24-year-old doll maker.

Besides having distinctive characteristics, each doll also has a name, birth date and birth certificate. Miss Pinkie, Peter Bird and Sing Prince were among the names Ooi had given her special dolls.

About 70 traders from around Penang participated in the Little Penang Street Market Christmas sale, offering local products, handicrafts and handmade decorative items such as rattan baskets, palm leaf bags, pottery, tote bags, seashell art, key-chains and fridge magnets.

Handmade beads, crystal jewellery and Malaysian wear like kebaya, cheongsam, Punjabi suits, batik wear and colourful handpainted clogs were also available for sale.

There were also foodstuffs including Malay, Indonesian, Arab and Jawi Peranakan cakes and chutney, Chinese desserts, homemade bread, soya milk, cookies and other local sweet delicacies. Christmas goodies like gingerbread men were also popular buy.

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