Creative Capital: How this former banker-teacher became a woodworker that handcrafts heirloom furniture
Alvan Koh describes himself as a Jack of many trades. Over a decade in the corporate world, he'due south been a business possessor, a banker and a instructor. Today, he is a woodworker, handcrafting gorgeous wooden furniture pieces, who adheres to traditional Japanese woodcraft philosophies. That ways all of his products have to be crafted by mitt and held together by interlocking pieces in embrace. No nails and screws are ever used, even when edifice a table or a cupboard.
Alvan became enthralled with the Japanese philosophy of woodcrafting some two years ago. After trying to teach himself the craft, via YouTube videos, he finally decided he needed to go to Japan and pursue his passion properly. He travelled to Nippon and tutored under a master temple carpenter. He set Mokko Wood Studio upon his render to Singapore. His ambition is to non only craft heirloom furniture, but besides to build a community of enthusiasts. To that stop, he is also starting courses to introduce Japanese woodworking to a new generation of future artisans.
Alvan also doesn't allow his previous corporate experience become to waste material. "Funnily enough, I am now a combination of all of my past professions," he said. "As entrepreneur who has to handle my ain finances and a instructor preparation time to come woodworkers."
I had a conversation with him for our latest Creative Capital feature, a CNA Lifestyle serial on creatives making their marker in Singapore.
Do YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF AN ARTIST, A CRAFTSMAN OR AN ENTREPRENEUR, OR ALL OF THESE?
Allow me begin past talking about craftsmen. Craftsmen are makers. The craftsman is given a set of drawings, a plan to follow and he is expected to deliver exactly that. Craftsmen give their 100 per cent to their craft, and no effort is spared to the dedication of the arts and crafts in the craftsman. A craftsman does non requite 80 per cent, nor is he expected to evangelize 120 per cent; merely exactly 100 per cent Never allowed to fully express himself, the steps that he takes are not considered of import as compared to the concluding product itself.
READ: The Singaporean mum who handcrafts the wonder of childhood
Artists, on the other hand are expected to push beyond themselves and even beyond other artists before them. Equally my Sensei says: "An try of 120 per cent is continuously expected". It'due south not acceptable for an artist to work at 100 per cent and re-create another creative person's work, every bit it would not be acceptable for a craftsman to provide his own pattern to the prescribed design.
I consider myself an artist first, where I accept the freedom to decide how a final piece will be. Personality tests confirm that I'thousand somewhat of a non-conformist. I ofttimes visit the space where my finished product would be placed, just to feel the free energy of the infinite. The next guide for me is the wood itself. Timber is never the same, and working with dissimilar pieces and studying the forms and the grains informs each work. I take been lucky plenty that my designs are well-liked by my clients. I have not seen my piece of work existence re-sold in second hand markets so that tells me that I'1000 doing something correct.
HOW DID Yous Commencement DISCOVER YOUR Beloved FOR WOOD WORKING?
I was always tinkering with objects from a young historic period! I loved taking things apart and so putting it dorsum together, though not always to good effect. I recall information technology's in my nature to understand physically how things work and then the adjacent step would exist to build. I prefer wood because of its connection to nature.
Information technology actually started when I was looking for a new snooker cue. That got me interested in how cues were made. Then I found myself becoming more interested in how wood was selected. The interest then ballooned into various branches like carpentry tools, types of forest, carpentry techniques, etc. At that place was no turning back one time I stumbled upon Japanese woodcraft.
WHAT IS It ABOUT JAPANESE WOODCRAFT THAT REALLY INSPIRES YOU?
The Japanese have a deep respect for nature, it'south evident in their way of life. Japanese temple carpenters are most sensitive to these principles and take used them to build iconic temples that concluding for centuries.
For example, logs used for building columns need to withstand tremendous weight stress. These would be very carefully scrutinized for clues as to how the tree was positioned when information technology was rooted to the footing. Every log is inspected close up to determine how it is going to be used. They are able to recognize the orientation of the logs and which side of the log faced the s – which is the side that gets the most sun throughout the year.
They would then position the log the right manner up and face it in the direction that it was facing when it was still office of a tree. Why? Because woods moves along with humidity changes throughout the twelvemonth and positioning it in the aforementioned way that it was been positioned in nature makes the construction more stable.
The other attribute would exist in the magic of joinery. To build something is to join pieces of wood together. Japanese joinery is all about shaping woods into geometrical shapes that interlock with each other in a tight comprehend.
Structures built this way are better equipped to deal with the stress of daily usage. They actually last longer than if they were congenital with screws and nails. How so? Past employing the tensile strength of the wood and its inherent ability to bend and rebound to stress and daze. Pieces that are bound past nails might suspension because the nails hold on also tightly and might not allow for movement to be absorbed.
This is the reason why Japanese temples are built without the employ of metallic. Such methods of joining wood without nails or screws have existed for centuries.
HOW DID YOU START Grooming? DID YOU ALREADY HAVE Feel BEFORE TRAVELLING TO JAPAN LAST Twelvemonth?
Because of the lack of learning opportunities in Singapore, I was mainly self-taught before I travelled to Nihon. I spent two years learning from books and from videos on YouTube. I felt my technical skills had reached a plateau and I knew I had to travel to exist able to get to the next level. Craftsmanship is a life-long learning journey and even later on my formal preparation I am always open to learning more.
I looked overseas for learning opportunities and found Suikoushya International Arts and crafts School. It was cracking timing because they had just opened their doors to the international community and I was actually happy to be its inaugural strange student. My Sensei Takami Kawai and I both strongly feel that fate brought u.s. together. Today, they are fully booked out a year in advance; it's a existent attestation to the teaching ability of Sensei Takami.
I'1000 as well really excited to be able bring Suikoushya to Singapore in September this twelvemonth. I'll will be hosting Suikoushya founder Sensei Takami Kawai and his apprentice Dylan Iwakuni for two workshops hither. The response then far has been great because enthusiasts can now feel and learn from the principal sans the big time and financial investment.
TELL ME More than Virtually YOUR EXPERIENCE IN Nihon? HOW LONG WAS IT? WHAT WAS EACH DAY Like?
It was admittedly fantastic for someone as hungry for knowledge every bit I was. The course ran for one month, simply I wish I could have stayed ten times longer. Through a series of daily projects, Sensei Takami Kawai helped me to refine my technical skills. Each twenty-four hour period lasted from 8am to 5pm, simply I was then enthralled that Sensei had to limit my fourth dimension there until 8pm every evening. There were too visits to various industry players similar boyfriend craftsmen, sawmills and blacksmiths.
It was also a daily struggle being abroad from my wife, Pamella, and my sons, Ryan and Tyler. Pamella has been fantastic supporting my dream and endeavours - perhaps even braver than I was since she was the one in Singapore holding the fort and making sure that I was able to concentrate in Nihon.
I mean, this was a husband who bankrupt the bank to pursue his dream. He has emptied his bank business relationship and dived head get-go into a newly opened school in a strange country, with no security nor guarantee that he even paid for something legit. If y'all think he's dauntless, think once again about his married woman!
HOW HAS THE BUSINESS BEEN GOING Then FAR? HAS Information technology BEEN A HARD TRANSITION FROM THE CORPORATE WORLD TO BEING A CREATIVE Professional person?
I am blessed to be busy with client projects so far. Despite the waiting fourth dimension of three to 4 months, clients put their faith in my work and I sometimes accept to bargain with the guilt of staying in the workshop longer than what my children wish. Transition from corporate world? To do what one loves is everybody'south dream then I can say the simply thing I miss is having an air conditioned office!
IS SINGAPORE A TOUGH PLACE TO Be A CREATIVE?
I'll speak from the perspective of a piece of furniture artisan. There's infinite for creativity here. The but limit is the artisan himself.
A lot of my clients give me free artistic freedom to create – the only matter they specify are the functional dimensions of the piece.
HOW Practise YOU FIND YOUR CUSTOMERS?
I have been lucky because well-nigh of them find me past referrals from clients and friends. I'd honey to talk to article of furniture stockists to carry my pieces. If anyone is interested, delight go in bear upon!
DO Y'all HAVE One OF THOSE "WHAT IN THE World AM I DOING?" MOMENTS?
Sometimes! As a designer I only commencement with a crude design in heed and information technology is pretty basic at best when I start a slice. The blueprint flows as I proceed and sometimes midway through a projection I get these moments. It'south pretty normal for me to sit for hours only staring at a piece, thinking nigh how to go on. I recollect it'due south akin to writer's blocks. That's when yous realize y'all need to irksome downward and think or merely go abode and sleep on it.
WHAT'Due south BEEN THE TOUGHEST Creative CHALLENGE YOU'VE FACED SO FAR?
I can't actually pinpoint one since every piece has its own challenges. A memorable one would be when I was making a Windsor chair. Windsor chairs have been around for hundreds of years. They accept a basic recognizable design which I started off with.
As the building progressed, I felt that information technology didn't speak as much to me as I would have liked it to. It simply didn't feel right as information technology would have looked ordinary when complete. Sometimes ordinary is great merely it has to experience special yet. That'south the time when you lot accept to dig in deep to figure out what tin can be washed to better resonate with the piece. I took fourth dimension off the project and explored various ideas until it struck me. I was reading about Nihon'due south new era Reiwa, which happens when there is an engagement of a new emperor. They had just come upwardly with the name of a new era, and that gave me the inspiration and provided the impetus to comport on with the project.
I went back to the chair and added a small detail to the fundamental spindles, using 3 sparse strips to suspension the visual monotony of the spindles. This also gave the impression of the give-and-take "日" which signifies both the origin of the thought being from "日本" Japan as well as the origin of myself as an artist. A signature Japanese "Shiribasami Tsugi" joint was as well added to the lesser stretcher below the seat as an added Japanese detail. I'm really pleased with how it all came together in the finish. The chair is named Reiwa.
ARE YOU THE ONLY ONE IN SINGAPORE DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING?
I've had the award to encounter others hither who are as passionate and inspired as I am by the Japanese way of woodcrafting. Nosotros are a modest community here but I'm proud to say that since Suikoushya's inception in 2018, Singapore has had the highest representation in its alumni. And we don't have to be a pocket-sized customs because of the perceived difficulty. How hard can sawing and hammering be? Humans have been doing this since nosotros learnt how to make the first stone tools! Just takes patience to concentrate and the grit to carry it through. With a little guidance information technology is easy.
WHO IS YOUR OWN Pattern OR Creative HERO?
I count the belatedly George Nakashima equally someone who was and then forrad in going back to nature to await for inspiration. There are too many Japanese craftsmen who I follow on Instagram who inspire me on a daily basis. I have an amazing true story about a particular Japanese designer-craftsman who has inspired me.
READ: The Singaporean bespoke shoemaker who dreams of stepping onto the world phase
During my time in Japan, I travelled inter-state from Kyoto to Kobe to visit the Takenaka Carpentry Museum. This museum is considered to be the best in Japan for its exhibits and research into the history of Japanese carpentry tools. I had almost finished walking and studying the tool exhibits after spending a few hours at that place, and at the last section there was a workshop space where one could experience using the tools.
I stepped inside, and instead of the tools communicable my eyes, I was drawn to a nondescript corner of the room where a craftsman was sharpening his tool. At that place was something peculiar in the fashion he was sharpening his tool that I had not seen before. Feeling curious, I walked past the experiential tools section right next to him and asked politely for his permission to let me observe the style he was sharpening. Without saying a discussion, he nodded his caput in agreement.
It was both fresh and fascinating at the same time to lookout man the mode he was doing it. After making many mental notes through the ascertainment, I thanked him and proceeded on my way. Again, without proverb a word he politely nodded his head as to admit my gratitude. For a long fourth dimension, he would remain in my listen as the nameless craftsman-who-sharpened-his-tool-differently.
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Fast forward one twelvemonth subsequently, I was inspired by a designer chair that I saw. Designer-carpenter Masahiro Goto had only concluded a chair making workshop in Israel and had posted pictures of the chair on social media. It gave me the inspiration to build my starting time chair. Afterward it was built, I muttered enough courage to send pictures of my chair to Goto-San to thank him for the inspiration. I had no idea how he would respond to a random Singaporean stranger who adapted his design but something inside me strongly encouraged me to send him the photos.
Goto-San replied to thank me for my gratitude and expressed his honor of inspiring my build. To my surprise, he added that nosotros had in fact met before - at the Takenaka Carpentry Museum! I had never expected that the nameless craftsman-who-sharpened-his-tool-differently would turn out to be Goto-San who would inspire me one yr later. We had never spoken the time we met simply I guess I had somewhat made an impression on him. I named the chair the Goto chair to honour the fate that brought ii strangers together.
WHAT'Southward THE DREAM?
I often dream about being skilled enough to compete in Kezurokai in Japan. It is a competition of skill between carpenters to be able to plane the thinnest shaving. Competition winners often plane shavings of five microns thick. Only to put this in perspective, the thickness of a human being pilus is 17 microns at its thinnest. For at present, this is something that I can only dream almost!
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/singaporean-woodworker-alvan-koh-japanese-furniture-227936
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