---
title: "80-year-old retiree creates art with twigs on ground at Owen Road carpark: 'Good job, uncle'"
url: "/singapore-seen/80-year-old-retiree-creates-art-with-twigs-on-ground-at-owen-road-carpark-good-job"
published: "2023-09-06T01:50:08.000Z"
updated: "2023-09-06T02:26:49.000Z"
section: "Singapore Seen"
authors: ["Ong Su Mann"]
tags: ["art","Owen Road","elderly man"]
---

# 80-year-old retiree creates art with twigs on ground at Owen Road carpark: 'Good job, uncle'

*An elderly man was spotted using twigs to create art on the ground at a carpark near Block 44 Owen Road on Aug 26. *

An elderly man was spotted using twigs to create art on the ground at a carpark near Block 44 Owen Road on Aug 26.

Stomper Mel said he gave her permission to take a video of him at work on his art.

"He was in full concentration and seemed to enjoying himself," said the Stomper.

<https://players.brightcove.net/4802324446001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6336624813112>

"I heard from some nearby residents that this old man is a regular figure there and was always enjoying himself with those twigs.

"Good job, uncle."

Another Stomper was also impressed by the uncle last year.

Stomper Mike said: "I just had dinner at the hawker centre when I saw the old man. As I walked further up along Owen Road, I saw a beautiful portrait of a woman on the ground and realised that the man was making works of art out of twigs."

![](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/9215624eb79956f40860458cb0ee23c7ea08e962fb5aa729cfc67945ea6d5c1e)

Known as Uncle Thien, the 80-year-old retiree first went viral in July 2020.

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFGkthyNjLk>

Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Alvin Tan has posted several times about Uncle Thien on Facebook.

<https://www.facebook.com/alvinshtan/posts/pfbid02UAu1cSQCkwQ3PYyuGv7S6Y8qKQFjUBMkJcs4LJqrV3GrnZy2NCcJKyLH1YKpT3Whl>

<https://www.facebook.com/alvinshtan/posts/pfbid02Jtvov6aPcC5iCwXnam79g4ffFsTDxJNbJjbfXyMJBhPWcG1SmYsebdDUAadSwmUrl>

<https://www.facebook.com/alvinshtan/posts/pfbid0ZG6NoUMBa5kCmCYHENPZd9nFDqu9G8pTu5j6SnbutJvPiJfYGZLbTwKDWajYiqkQl>

Uncle Thien has also been featured in Lianhe Zaobao and Shin Min Daily News.

<https://www.facebook.com/shinmindailynewsxinmingribao/posts/pfbid05sJfCJ71VUn4CUKb1nDyqkiU8utjV6n2jAAY89PxTsSWcSJVYPGFV4Nfnjx2YwjJl>

He told Zaobao: “One day, I walked by the carpark and saw some twigs on the ground. I had the sudden inspiration to see what I could create from arranging them. I used to love buying magazines and books to study drawing techniques. So I decided to create some portraits.”

On why he keeps at it, he once said: "When you get old, your mental capability weakens. That's why I need to exercise my brain."