[Profile] Chew Kok Liang: The Visionary Who Carved a Cultural Legacy onto Netflix

The Profile Snapshot

In a world obsessed with digital frontiers, Chew Kok Liang stands as a testament to the power of heritage, patience, and paper. He is not a tech mogul or a finance titan, but a cultural entrepreneur whose medium is the humble sheet of red paper and whose boardroom is the global stage of streaming entertainment. His journey is a masterclass in branding a traditional art form for the 21st century.

• 👨‍💼 Name: Chew Kok Liang
• 🏷️ Role: Founder & Master Artisan, Traditional Chinese Paper-Cut Art Studio
• 🔑 Key Superpower: Cultural Storyteller & Heritage Brand Builder

The Catalyst: Why It Matters

Chew Kok Liang recently captured international attention, not through a corporate merger, but through cultural resonance. His decade-long dedication to preserving and innovating the ancient art of Chinese paper-cutting earned him a prestigious feature in a Netflix documentary series spotlighting global artisans. This moment transcends personal achievement; it represents a significant case study in how Malaysian cultural heritage, when coupled with strategic vision and storytelling, can achieve unprecedented global visibility and commercial viability.

The Leadership Dialogue: Inside The Mindset

Reflecting on the journey, Chew speaks with the calm precision of a master craftsman. He emphasizes that his mission was never merely about preservation in a museum sense. "The greatest risk to tradition is irrelevance," he states, his hands subtly mimicking the act of cutting. His leadership mindset pivoted on a crucial insight: to keep an art form alive, you must make it breathe in the modern world.

He candidly admits the early years were a battle against perception—fighting the idea that paper-cutting was a quaint, fading folk art. His strategy was twofold: deep mastery and bold innovation. While ensuring every snip honored centuries-old techniques and symbolic language, he began incorporating contemporary Malaysian motifs—the Petronas Towers, native flora, multicultural festivals—into his designs. When speaking about the Netflix feature, his eyes light up not with pride over fame, but with validation of his core belief. "It proved that our stories, our Malaysian blend of cultures told through this delicate medium, have a universal audience. It's not niche; it's narrative."

Career Milestones & Achievements

• Founded his dedicated paper-cut art studio a decade ago, transitioning from a passionate hobbyist to a professional cultural entrepreneur.
• Pioneered the "Modern Heritage" collection, seamlessly integrating iconic Malaysian architecture and themes into traditional paper-cut designs, creating a new, locally resonant art category.
• Successfully commercialized the art form through high-end corporate commissions, limited edition artworks, and cultural workshops, building a sustainable business model around a traditional craft.
• Led the curation and execution of large-scale, immersive paper-cut installations for major cultural festivals and corporate events, dramatically scaling the art's visual impact.
• Achieved global recognition by being featured as a subject in a Netflix documentary series, elevating Malaysian traditional art onto a world-class entertainment platform.

The Editor's Take

Chew Kok Liang exemplifies the "Steward-Innovator" leader. He is a guardian of intangible heritage, yet his approach is fiercely entrepreneurial. He doesn't just protect the past; he productizes it for the future, understanding that true preservation requires economic sustainability. His leadership is quiet but potent, built on deep expertise, narrative intelligence, and the courage to redefine an art form's context.

• 👁️ Visionary Thinking: 9/10 – Saw the potential for a traditional craft to become a modern cultural brand long before others.
• ⚡ Execution Capability: 8/10 – Translated vision into a viable studio, product lines, and ultimately, global media placement.
• 🌟 Industry Influence: 8/10 – Is reshaping the perception and commercial landscape for traditional arts in Malaysia and beyond.

"The scissors are only the tool. The real craft is in knowing what to keep and what to cut away to reveal a story that connects across time." – Chew Kok Liang