CARRYING the memory of her late husband in her heart, dough art enthusiast Elaine Teoh is returning to the public eye with a fresh collection of lively and meaningful creations ahead of the Lunar New Year next week.
For years, Teoh and her husband, Loh Ban Tatt, were familiar faces during the festive season, appearing in newspapers and at community events to showcase their dough art and promote traditional culture.
Their partnership came to an abrupt halt when Loh passed away due to illness in late November 2024, leaving behind memories of the couple crafting side by side and attending interviews together.
His death dealt Teoh a heavy emotional blow, and she admitted she once considered giving up the craft they had built together.
Her turning point came in July last year when she met a mentor who offered encouragement and technical guidance, helping her gradually regain confidence and direction in her work.
“Being unhappy every day is not a solution. I want to turn his regrets into my own brilliance. The first half of the journey was his, and the second half will be mine,” she said.
Determined to move forward, Teohspent seven to eight months creating new pieces, working from 3pm after returning home from work until late at night.
She has completed over 100 dough art pieces, including horses symbolising success and prosperity, Chinese zodiac figures, festive greetings such as “gong xi fa cai”, as well as lifelike scenes of reunion dinners and family celebrations.
When asked whether she would continue next year, she replied without hesitation: “Yes, definitely. I will be better and better each year.”
Teoh said the emptiness left by her husband is most deeply felt at the work table where they once spent countless nights crafting together.
“Whenever I see that table, I feel an indescribable sadness because that familiar figure will never appear there again,” she said.
She later realised that avoiding the pain only made it worse and chose instead to face her grief and transform it into motivation to live fully.
“Instead of sitting and waiting helplessly, I choose to live in the present and enjoy the present. That’s why I am still continuing this craft today,” she said.
Last year, during the Year of the Snake, the couple had planned to create festive works using twisted-stick techniques.
Although she struggled emotionally at the time, Teoh fulfilled their plan, immersing herself in her work as the New Year approached.
“It was less than two months to Chinese New Year and I had no mood to work, but the materials had already arrived. So I stayed off social media and focused on completing the pieces,” she said.
She admitted that comments suggesting her husband might have achieved even greater things had he lived were difficult for her to accept, and she once felt fate had been unfair.
She also revealed that before his passing, Loh had told her not to continue with dough art because of the physical demands of the craft.
However, recalling her husband’s persistence — especially during the movement control order when he spent his free time crafting — she found it hard to let go.
Despite changes in style and technique, Teoh said the couple’s original intention remains unchanged.
She stressed that their dough art was never meant primarily for profit but to create opportunities for parents and children to bond through hands-on activities.
As a mother of three, she believes childhood passes quickly and hopes crafting together can teach children patience and focus in a digital age.
Although her husband passed away while their children are still young, she said he had been actively involved in their upbringing, travelling with them for competitions and participating in events whenever schedules allowed.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Law Suun Ting