Into the Light

Discover how Kim Whye Kee, who was once stuck in a chaos transform his life through embracing pottery, rising above his difficult past.

Written by: Phong Wan Ling

Photos courtesy of: Kim Whye Kee

In life, where decisions shape destinies, a man’s journey can go beyond the shadows of a challenging past.

Meet Kim Whye Kee, 44, who navigated the challenging path of reintegration into society after a decade in prison and having endured nine strokes of the cane. His shift from the harsh confines of the prison cells to the peace of a pottery studio was propelled by the poignant loss of his father.

Whye Kee in his early days with his mother

The Dawn of Transformation

Whye Kee grew up in a happy family, but everything changed when his father started gambling. His family home turned into a make-shift casino with the noise of cards and the smell of smoke filling the air. "I can still remember how our house was like a casino, full of people gambling with cards and smoking," says Whye Kee. 

After the episode of gambling, Whye Kee’s parents’ marriage breaking apart really affected his childhood and it led him to repeat, spending a total of eight years in primary school. 

Financial struggles and a lack of parental guidance drew him to gangs during his teenage years, where he sought refuge in bullying others and it also steered him into a life of violence and crime. 

As he rose through the gang ranks, he became the leader of the notorious gang "2-4," Whye Kee learned the harsh realities of street survival—fighting, collecting protection money, and recruiting members. 

Breaking Chains

However, this life came at a cost. Three incarcerations followed, with the latest sentencing him to five years and nine strokes of the cane for extortion of money.

Quitting the gang while in prison was the start of Whye Kee’s journey to change. However, stepping out into society as an ex-convict proved to be a daunting challenge, with discrimination and limited job opportunities casting shadows on his path to redemption. 

Upon each release from prison, Whye Kee faced the harsh reality of unemployment, despite his determination to turn his life around. The stigma of being an ex-convict, coupled with visible tattoos, caused a cycle of rejection. 

He recalls being asked mockingly at one of the job interviews, "What happens when you get angry while you are working here? Will you whack the workers? Will you recruit them into your gang?" Every rejection felt like a heavy blow, pushing him further into the margins of society.

Whye Kee at his pottery studio

Finding Himself through Pottery and Art 

Turning to art, Whye Kee pursued a degree at Lasalle, where he found acceptance for his tattoos and comfort in creativity. Reflecting on his journey, he states, "I didn't overcome stigma and judgement, I just live with it.” His words echo the hardships he’s faced, a narrative etched with scars and victories. 

While serving his final sentence, he discovered an unexpected passion—pottery. Within the prison school, pottery emerged as a profound and spiritual healing process, transforming his life from neglected mud into a work of art through unwavering effort and determination. "I feel like my life is like pottery, a pile of mud if unattended to, a piece of art if some effort is put in," he says. Pottery, for him, became a metaphor for transformation and redemption.

Today, Whye Kee is a full-time artist, specialising in teaware and functional pottery. The aesthetic of pottery, he explains, is rooted in daily life observations. It requires a deep appreciation for the lines, curves, and textures of everyday objects, translated into the intricate details of his pottery pieces. Specialising in teaware, Whye Kee's functional pottery is not just about form—it's about placing the people who use it at the forefront of his creations.

Embracing a Future of Art

As Whye Kee envisions contributing to Singapore's art scene, he dreams of establishing a tea house cum pottery studio, where he can share the lessons of his journey with others. 

In essence, Whye Kee’s story is not just about pottery, it’s a narrative of stepping out of the shadows, facing societal judgments and moulding a life of redemption. It shows that even the toughest challenges can be overcome, just like how the hardest clay can be shaped into something beautiful.