Feb 15 (Reuters) - Norway's Magnus Carlsen added another crown to his collection on Sunday by becoming the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess world champion after a comeback win over Fabiano Caruana in Germany.
Wearing a rugged protective glove, young craftsman Lim Jun Hao skilfully carves the edges of a wooden block. He moves with deliberate grace, using a chisel to carefully shape a cubic block into a charming little horse.
Once the carving is complete, he paints a dark mane and adds two large white eyes, each accented with a tiny black dot.The result is an irresistible figure that captivates passers-by.“This is my new creation to welcome the Year of the Horse.” His unique horses were among other cute creations featured at Year of the Horse “Horse-Seh-Liao” 2026 bazaar at GMBB mall in Kuala Lumpur. The event drew craft entrepreneurs and hobbyists selling artisanal Chinese New Year-themed arts and crafts, as well as past “Kampung Good” competition winners with their food stalls. The bazaar, jointly organised by non-governmental organisation Kampung-ing and the Kampung and Co social enterprise, aimed to showcase local food products from Chinese new villages across Malaysia. Introduced in 2022, the contest highlights and supports the market growth of products from new villages. At Lim’s booth, visitors were invited to colour miniature wooden horses, their distinctive chisel marks lending a tactile texture.“I do not sand the figure or smooth the edges on purpose, leaving more realistic wood-carving traits. “I want people to see the work that went into it because a mini horse figure takes about half a day to complete from start to finish,” he said. The 27-year-old interior design graduate found his passion for wood carving inspired by his furniture-maker father.He spent two to three years quietly honing his skills, experimenting with different wooden forms until he gained confidence in his craft.“I decided to take a leap of faith and try out wood carving full-time,” Lim said.“Sometimes I hold workshops to share the joy of the craft.” His brand, the “Hao Hao Do” workshop, features a logo of a whimsical-looking chicken, which has become a mascot for his teaching sessions.“It is the main character of my workshop as chickens are easy to carve, and I just love making them” Lim said.At another part of the bustling bazaar, Lynette Wong, 16, shows a different kind of precision. She skilfully models air-dry clay into round, horse faces incorporating the Mandarin character “fu” meaning prosperity.The clay is shaped into long, tiny rods to form the intricate characters before pasting on a base equipped with a magnet.“It takes me three hours to create one piece,” she said.“It is incredibly lightweight, making it perfect for children to play with.Wong’s journey into the world of sculpting began in the kitchen. She recalled how her grandmother would make noodles from flour and always set aside a small batch for her to play with.“When I was eight, I started attending art classes and discovered air-dry clay.By the age of 14, Wong was already an entrepreneur, setting up booths at weekend bazaars.“I was ecstatic. It was then that I realised I could monetise my art and turn my hobby into a small business,” she said.A child sitting on a horse-shaped rocker at the ‘Horse-Seh-Liao’ bazaar.“Sometimes I stayed up late at night working on projects even after my parents told me to sleep earlier.Currently, she is collaborating with Malaysia-based creative brand Nekojin Workshop to develop seven unique characters, each featuring a funky and colourful personality.At another booth, 50-year-old Jovie Lee found a different kind of peace – one woven through yarn and quiet focus.Lee displaying Chinese New Year-themed crocheted keychains and trinkets at her booth during the festive bazaar in Kuala Lumpur. — Photos: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star To celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse, she has designed several themed accessories, including horse-shaped trinkets that catch the eye of collectors. Lee made the bold decision to leave her full-time career as a construction purchaser in 2023 to learn the art of crochet.“It is incredibly therapeutic,” said Lee who is an artisan from Kampung Baru Serdang. She taught herself the tricks of the trade by watching tutorials on online video sharing platforms and browsing through social media. She runs a stall at Bazaar Rakyat in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, while travelling to market her wares at special events.“The durian was inspired by my hometown Segamat .“To keep up with modern trends, I often ask people what they would like to see next and incorporate their suggestions into my work,” she said.The “Horse-Seh-Liao” bazaar at The Grey Box in GMBB drew strong interest from exhibitors, with stalls extending out onto the building’s facade. Visitors could be seen wandering through the fare, stopping to admire new village products manned by multi-generational families. Aside from shopping, visitors also participated in various workshops, taking home pieces of their own handiwork. Other highlights included customised ang pow with names written in elegant Chinese calligraphy, hydro-printed fans and handmade clay art. “By bringing artisans and entrepreneurs together, we create an incubator for these players to expand.” Jane Chen Kampung and Co cofounder Jane Chen said the bazaar was a vital platform for cultivating and preserving the culture of Malaysia’s new villages. “Kampung and Co was set up to help cottage industry entrepreneurs better market and position their products. “By bringing artisans and entrepreneurs together, we created an incubator for these players to expand. “It allows creative works and traditional food products to cross paths, creating opportunities for future collaboration,” she said.“The more localised a product, the more potential it has for a global audience,” she said.“When people learn about the origins of these products, they visit the villages, which in turn drives social and economic growth for those communities.”
Wooden Horse Year Of The Horse Horse-Seh-Liao Bazaar GMBB Kuala Lumpur Food Stalls Artisanal Crafts Hao Hao Do Workshop Lynette Wong Air-Dry Clay
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