An Homage to The Last Lantern Maker
An homage to Mr. Lee Ah Hock and a dying art.
This piece is a reimagining of a short slideshow I created back in 2010. It was simple, but it struck a chord. You can find it HERE.
At the center of it was an old man named Mr. Lee Ah Hock, working quietly in a fragile, crumbling shop house in Georgetown, Malaysia. He and his wife were possibly the last traditional paper lantern makers in the country. His workspace felt like it belonged to another century—dust layered thick on forgotten tools, faded lanterns hanging from the ceiling like ghosts.
When I first went to photograph him, he was too sick to work. A few weeks later, I came back to find the building condemned. My heart sank. But by some stroke of grace, he pulled up in an old car just as I was leaving. He was still sick, but he let me inside. I took a few photos. He told me I could come back anytime.
When I returned only a few weeks later to follow up, the shop was gone—razed, just as the sign had warned. Eventually, years later, I tracked him down again, working out of a new building a few miles away. But everything had changed. The charm was gone. The old textures, the filtered yellow light—replaced by stark white plaster walls, plastic chairs, and harsh fluorescent bulbs. He wasn’t making lanterns anymore. And I never even raised my camera.
I’ve heard rumors Mr. Lee has since passed or stopped working entirely. A man of his age and poor health… fifteen years is a long time.
So this video is my long-overdue tribute. My monument.
To him,
to his forgotten craft,
to the sacred beauty of things slipping quietly away.
And if you remember him or if you know anything more about him—I’d love to hear from you. And if this story moves you, share it. We forget too easily.
Maybe we shouldn’t.
Lee Ah Hock – 1935 – 2014
Postscript: Remembering Mr. Lee Ah Hock
After publishing this piece, I discovered more about Mr. Lee’s life and legacy.
Lee Ah Hock, former owner of Tai Keat Seong, was Penang’s last traditional lantern maker. His father emigrated from Fuzhou, China, bringing the craft with him. Born in 1935, Mr. Lee learned the trade as a child and began helping his father full-time by age 20. His lanterns—made from bamboo, wire, and cloth—adorned doorways across George Town for decades.
Mr. Lee passed away in 2014. With him, another of Penang’s traditional crafts faded into memory.
This additional context was shared in a tribute by a local sculptor on Instagram, July 23, 2024.
View that tribute here →
If you’re inspired by the power of storytelling through photography and eager to sharpen your skills, join us this September 12–20, 2025, for an immersive workshop in Sumatra, Indonesia. We’ll explore the dynamic Pacu Jawi tradition and the rich culture of the Mentawai people. It’s a rare chance to capture compelling narratives and grow your craft in extraordinary settings. Only one spot remains—secure your place today and be part of this unforgettable journey.
