SHAH ALAM, Feb 14 — Behind the cheers and agile movements of lion dance performers lies a refined craft often overlooked: the making of lion heads by local artisan Lim Meng Kok.
The 78-year-old world-class expert craftsman, who founded Lo Fo Chi Enterprise more than four decades ago, receives orders from around the globe and currently produces between 20 and 30 lion heads a month.
He has also introduced innovation by replacing hard bamboo with rattan and aluminium to create more durable frames, setting a benchmark for the industry.
Although authentic lion heads are priced between RM3,500 and RM8,000, orders remain fully booked until 2028. Lim is determined to pass on this art to the younger generation, as it is a cultural heritage that must be preserved.
Photographer Mohd Khairul Helmy Mohd Din captured the artisan at work, crafting lion heads at his workshop in Kepong on January 20.
A worker carefully produces a rattan frame for a lion head at the Lo Fo Chi Enterprise workshop in Kepong, on January 20, 2026.
A worker carefully produces a rattan frame for a lion head at the Lo Fo Chi Enterprise workshop in Kepong, on January 20, 2026.
A worker carefully applies layers of paper onto a rattan frame for a lion head at the Lo Fo Chi Enterprise workshop in Kepong, on January 20, 2026.
A worker carefully applies adhesive layers onto a lion head at the Lo Fo Chi Enterprise workshop in Kepong, on January 20, 2026.
Master craftsman Lim Meng Kok, 78, carefully applies paint and colouring onto a lion head at the Lo Fo Chi Enterprise workshop in Kepong, on January 20, 2026.
At the Lo Fo Chi Enterprise workshop in Kepong on January 20, 2026, the process of colouring a lion's head is carried out in accordance with customer specifications. Each step reflects precision, experience, and heritage.
A worker carefully applies paint and colouring onto a lion head at the Lo Fo Chi Enterprise workshop in Kepong, on January 20, 2026.
A worker carefully applies paint and colouring onto a lion head at the Lo Fo Chi Enterprise workshop in Kepong, on January 20, 2026.
A worker trims the fur on a completed lion head at the Lo Fo Chi Enterprise workshop in Kepong, on January 20, 2026.
A worker hangs up a completed lion head alongside others like it, a symbol of the continuity of lion dance art and culture, at the Lo Fo Chi Enterprise workshop in Kepong, on January 20, 2026.
Master craftsman Lim Meng Kok, 78, with his employees and their completed handcrafts of lion heads, at the Lo Fo Chi Enterprise workshop in Kepong, on January 20, 2026.
