JOHOR BARU — As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, a local fruit carving artist has introduced an innovative way of celebrating by creating lanterns from fruit, blending cultural tradition with hands-on creativity.

Wong Chin Chuang, 38, who works in the finance sector, has been practicing fruit carving for three years after discovering the craft through an online post during a trip to Taiwan. He recently held a free workshop on Jalan Tan Hiok Nee heritage street, inviting the public to learn how to transform common fruits such as oranges and pomelos into decorative lanterns. The process involves hollowing out the fruit and carving patterns into the skin, while larger pieces like watermelons are carved and assembled using interlocking techniques that do not require glue or metal wiring.

At the workshop, participants of all ages were taught how to create lanterns shaped like popular characters such as Pikachu, illuminated from within by small LED lights. Wong emphasized that crafting a lantern by hand offers a more meaningful experience than purchasing mass-produced versions.

Fruit carving, Wong explained, is an art form with roots going back over 300 years to the Kangxi and Qianlong eras of China's Qing Dynasty. Historically, only skilled artisans were commissioned within imperial palaces to perform these intricate carvings. While the tradition has waned in popularity, Wong hopes that community workshops will help revive interest and preserve the cultural heritage.

Attendee Andrew Ooi brought his nine-year-old daughter, Sun Hui, to the workshop, noting the novelty of using fruit as a medium for lantern-making. Ooi highlighted the importance of outdoor activities and face-to-face social interaction, especially for children, in contrast to the increasing reliance on digital platforms. He expressed a desire for more cultural events like this to foster social connections and engage younger generations in traditional practices.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated across Chinese communities worldwide, falls on Friday this year, marking a time for family gatherings, mooncakes, and lantern displays. Wong’s fruit lantern initiative adds a fresh, interactive dimension to these longstanding festivities.