By KEVIN TAN
alltherage@thestar.com.my
When Sim Pojoo was in secondary school, she had to take art subjects in secret because her parents wanted her to focus on science-based subjects after the PMR examination.
Her secret lessons paid off as Sim now has a flourishing career, making props and designing sets for stage plays.
“I’ve always loved making things. I didn’t have much money back then so I would always make handmade gifts for friends and family,” said Sim, who used to make props for church plays.
So far, she has created props and designed sets for stage plays such as The Twits (based on a children’s book written by Roald Dahl) and The Tailor Made Man by Actspressions.
Sim, also a producer for GRIMFILM’s group of filmmakers, first got the opportunity to work on The Twits after she designed the wedding card for Jessica Ong, the play’s director.
“She asked me if I wanted to give it a shot (to make props for The Twits), so I got a couple of crafty friends to help me out and we pulled it off. One of the biggest sets to build was a prison,” said Sim, who also practises fine art, graphic design, and murals.
Building props for The Twits served as a huge stepping stone for Sim, as she picked up new skills for the trade. “I learned a bit of piping from an uncle who works at the hardware store and he taught me how I could build them – in the hardware store itself,” she said.
Sim makes her props at her own studio in Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya which she acquired three months ago. “The space in my room and house was too small to store all the stuff, and it was messy.”
One of Sim’s latest projects was the music video for local R&B singer Liang’s Keep On Keepin’ On, which was written in support of R.AGE’s upcoming anti-bullying campaign. The campaign holds a special place in Sim’s heart as she believes in helping people and even volunteers with StART society, an art academy dedicated to empower underprivileged children.
“I believe we all have gifts and it’s very important to grow them, share them and take joy in them beyond the pursuit of self-satisfaction.”
Sim is now giving her own art classes to youth within Klang Valley. She visits homes or studios to hold her classes and introduces art modules to students, teaching art history, arts and craft, fine art and encouraging creative thinking and more.
“There’s just so much joy in teaching, especially when the kids are learning,” she said.
A dedicated teacher, Sim has rejected many well-paying jobs just to be able to could continue teaching with StART society. “The other jobs paid like four times more. But when I think of the potential of the place (academy) and the precious lives, I didn’t think twice.”
Tell us what you think!