My parents asked me to help in the business. I had just got married and we were expecting our first child. I thought it was something I could try to help out my family. I started by observing how my parents worked. I took notes but mostly it is a craft you learn over time, by doing.

Singapore is a migrant society, predominantly from China. When they arrived from China, ready to start a new life, these effigies anchored them to their roots. Even if you lived in a small house, you would try to find space for an effigy. They are a reminder of who they were, where they came from and what they live for.

We are one of Singapore’s oldest heritage business, we always try to reinvent ourselves by expanding our products and services to secular audiences who see our effigies as works of art instead of objects of worship. We must also cherish our traditional customers, the temples and devotees.

A lot of the tools and materials used in this craft are recycled – juice bottles and jam jars – or everyday cheap materials. Frugal innovation is an important characteristic of artisanal craft, and reflects the values of our earlier generation. This is not a museum. It is the place we work. So there is no importance attached to making the workspace look nice on social media, this messiness is what makes it authentic!