Photos: Hong Kong candyman moulds sugar into art | Hindustan Times
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Photos: Hong Kong candyman moulds sugar into art

Updated On Nov 02, 2019 03:17 PM IST

While Hong Kong is best known for its dizzyingly dense collection of skyscrapers, many of the territory's outlying islands have a distinctly laid-back, rural vibe to them. Cheung Chau, one such island in the waters west of Hong Kong's famous Victoria Harbour has few buildings higher than four stories and life is more traditional, built around the local fishing community. Here, Louis To's shop, where they can watch a man locals dub "The Candyman" sculpt sugar into a host of animals and fantastical creatures, has become a must-see for visiting tourists.

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Louis To puts a figurine-shaped piece of candy on display for sale at his shop on Cheung Chau Island in Hong Kong. Using a pair of scissors, a blow pipe and small metal tools, Hong Kong shopkeeper Louis To whittles chunks of molten sugar into intricate designs such as dragons --a talent he began honing during China’s Cultural Revolution. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 02, 2019 03:17 PM IST

Louis To puts a figurine-shaped piece of candy on display for sale at his shop on Cheung Chau Island in Hong Kong. Using a pair of scissors, a blow pipe and small metal tools, Hong Kong shopkeeper Louis To whittles chunks of molten sugar into intricate designs such as dragons --a talent he began honing during China’s Cultural Revolution. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP)

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Louis To makes a flower out of candy at his shop. To’s shop on Cheung Chau, a small island in the waters west of Hong Kong’s famous Victoria Harbour, has become a must-see for visiting tourists. There they can watch a man locals dub “The Candyman” sculpt sugar into a host of animals and fantastical creatures. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 02, 2019 03:17 PM IST

Louis To makes a flower out of candy at his shop. To’s shop on Cheung Chau, a small island in the waters west of Hong Kong’s famous Victoria Harbour, has become a must-see for visiting tourists. There they can watch a man locals dub “The Candyman” sculpt sugar into a host of animals and fantastical creatures. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP)

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Louis To displays a flower-shaped piece of candy he made. To’s technique is a centuries-old folk art form in mainland China but there are few people in Hong Kong with the knowledge or skillset. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 02, 2019 03:17 PM IST

Louis To displays a flower-shaped piece of candy he made. To’s technique is a centuries-old folk art form in mainland China but there are few people in Hong Kong with the knowledge or skillset. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP)

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Louis To surrounded by bric-a-brac at his shop. “During this period, there was no food, there was nothing,” recalled To, who was born in Chaozhou, southern China. “So when I saw other children with toys, I tried to make replicas for myself.” (Isaac Lawrence / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 02, 2019 03:17 PM IST

Louis To surrounded by bric-a-brac at his shop. “During this period, there was no food, there was nothing,” recalled To, who was born in Chaozhou, southern China. “So when I saw other children with toys, I tried to make replicas for myself.” (Isaac Lawrence / AFP)

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Sugar mixtures used to decorate candy at To’s shop. He remembers being transfixed by the local sugar sculptor who would come to his neighbourhood on a bike and using little more than a kerosene lamp and a few chunks of coal magic up candied works of art. “I had no money to buy candies, but I watched the craftsmen make it,” he told AFP. “I remember very well how he proceeded, in every detail.” (Isaac Lawrence / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 02, 2019 03:17 PM IST

Sugar mixtures used to decorate candy at To’s shop. He remembers being transfixed by the local sugar sculptor who would come to his neighbourhood on a bike and using little more than a kerosene lamp and a few chunks of coal magic up candied works of art. “I had no money to buy candies, but I watched the craftsmen make it,” he told AFP. “I remember very well how he proceeded, in every detail.” (Isaac Lawrence / AFP)

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To’s family moved to Hong Kong in the 1980s when China began to open up after Mao Zedong’s death. He wasn’t a good student and dropped out of school to pursue a career as an artist. But it was only when he moved to Cheung Chau island with his own family in the early 2000s that he switched to sculpting sugar. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 02, 2019 03:17 PM IST

To’s family moved to Hong Kong in the 1980s when China began to open up after Mao Zedong’s death. He wasn’t a good student and dropped out of school to pursue a career as an artist. But it was only when he moved to Cheung Chau island with his own family in the early 2000s that he switched to sculpting sugar. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP)

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Louis To stirs a heated sugar mixture onto a stick. While Hong Kong is best known for its dizzyingly dense collection of skyscrapers, many of the territory’s outlying islands have a distinctly laid-back, rural vibe to them. Cheung Chau has few buildings higher than four stories and life is more traditional, built around the local fishing community. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 02, 2019 03:17 PM IST

Louis To stirs a heated sugar mixture onto a stick. While Hong Kong is best known for its dizzyingly dense collection of skyscrapers, many of the territory’s outlying islands have a distinctly laid-back, rural vibe to them. Cheung Chau has few buildings higher than four stories and life is more traditional, built around the local fishing community. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP)

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“In Cheung Chau, I saw many things that reminded me of my childhood -- flying kites, lion dances... things that you don’t see in the city, only here,” To said. “And I remembered that I wanted to craft candies.” With no recipes to guide him, To started experimenting himself, melting all kinds of sugars. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 02, 2019 03:17 PM IST

“In Cheung Chau, I saw many things that reminded me of my childhood -- flying kites, lion dances... things that you don’t see in the city, only here,” To said. “And I remembered that I wanted to craft candies.” With no recipes to guide him, To started experimenting himself, melting all kinds of sugars. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP)

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“For six months, I tried at least a dozen of them,” he explained. Eventually he struck upon the right technique to get the sugar pliable enough to sculpt. “I had blisters on my hands. I almost gave up,” he recalled. Now he is able to knead sugar dough at 80 C with his bare hands. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 02, 2019 03:17 PM IST

“For six months, I tried at least a dozen of them,” he explained. Eventually he struck upon the right technique to get the sugar pliable enough to sculpt. “I had blisters on my hands. I almost gave up,” he recalled. Now he is able to knead sugar dough at 80 C with his bare hands. (Isaac Lawrence / AFP)

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