CultureHe taught himself traditional Teochew crafts as a boy. More than 40 years on, he is still learning

Francis Tan Kwee Chye began teaching himself traditional Teochew crafts at nine, experimenting with chocolate wrappers, scrap wood and a penknife. More than four decades later, he still spends weeks refining some pieces, even as cheaper online alternatives threaten the craft’s survival in Singapore.