Some Singapore Boys' Home's youth are ushering in the Year of the Ox through the arts. As part of The Esplanade's community outreach programme, 36 boys are taught woodcutting and woodblock printing by artist Lim Bee Ling.

Each boy is given a different segment of a larger image to carve for two hours once a week for eight weeks, which eventually forms the final display to be exhibited.

After inking, a piece of paper is pressed onto the woodblock to make relief prints.

After printing, the boys assemble their woodblocks to see what the final image looks like. One boy said he felt a sense of pride and satisfaction, adding that he did not know he was carving the leg of the ox until it was assembled.

Their artwork can be seen on the Esplanade Community Wall from Jan 13 to Feb 15.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on December 30, 2008.