Take the lift to the 19th storey of Block 28D Dover Crescent and an impressive display greets you in the lift lobby.
There are seven rooster figures, including the popular Looney Tunes chicken character Foghorn Leghorn.
Pots of fresh flowers, pussy willow and artificial plants surround them.
On the right, three rooster figures are on the wall.
Six discs line the columns on the left and there are banners with Chinese New Year greetings.
This is the creation of resident Mark Tham, 68, a retired director in a food and beverage company.
He lives on the floor of the festive lift lobby and puts the display together with the help of his neighbours.
Since moving in six years ago, he has been decorating the lift lobby for Christmas and Chinese New Year every year.
For his Chinese New Year display, he dedicates three hours on weekdays and six hours on weekends, and spends about $1,000 on props a year.
He lives in a four-room flat with his wife Julia, also 68.
They have two sons, aged 43 and 38.
On why he started doing this, the grandfather of four says: “When I first moved in, I had time on my hands and wanted to start this project to get to know my neighbours. I want the display to encourage neighbourly bonding and kampung spirit. At least it gives us something to talk about and contributes to the festive atmosphere.”
He usually plans his designs a year in advance.
Whenever inspiration strikes – at church or when he is listening to music – he writes them on paper.
A drawing block in his room also has “blueprints” of his designs.
He says: “When I do something, I want it to be the best. So I plan properly and work hard.”
For his Chinese New Year display, he cut the chicken figures out of plywood with an electric saw, spraypainted them and applied a coat of protective lacquer.
The six discs are the coverings of pails, but are spraypainted and pasted with images of chicken characters.
His materials are bought locally and in Johor Baru.
Mr Tham, who has no training in art, says: “Everything I know is self-taught. I love to D-I-Y. It is hard work, but seeing the final product and my neighbours’ smiles warms my heart.”
Over the years, his neighbours have also contributed to the set-up.
One woman, for example, handmade 14 lanterns using red packets for this year’s display and they now hang from the ceiling.
His neighbours on the same floor appreciate the decorations.
One of them, university student Ong Chu Feng, 24, whose father contributed fresh plants, says: “We are glad to help contribute to the festive atmosphere and, every year, he comes up with a beautiful display. Many people, even those in other blocks, often visit our lift lobby.”
Ironically, there are no festive decorations in Mr Tham’s flat.
He says: “I want to concentrate on the lift lobby. If the decorations are in my home, who will get to see them?”
This article was first published on January 28, 2017.
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