Deaf sculpture guided by the Holy Spirit

Raymond Raj, a talented young sculptor from Cheras, shines as an inspiration to many. As the only deaf member of his family, Raymond has overcome challenges to carve a niche for himself in the world of art and sculpture.

Oct 12, 2024

By Elvina Fernandez
Raymond Raj, a talented young sculptor from Cheras, shines as an inspiration to many. As the only deaf member of his family, Raymond has overcome challenges to carve a niche for himself in the world of art and sculpture. His journey reflects unwavering resilience, deep faith, and an unyielding pursuit of creative freedom, all guided by the Holy Spirit.

The 33-year-old, when met at his humble workshop in Balakong, was overjoyed to share his journey and the stories behind the statues he was working on for restoration and repainting. “This is a 40-year-old statue, and this one has been passed down through three generations,” he signed and gestured as he warmed up before the interview session.

After almost three years of hard work, Raymond is today widely known among the Catholic community for his expertise in not only sculpturing Catholic holy statues but also repainting and restoration work. “Many send their statues for restoration from places like Ipoh, Melaka, Johor Bahru, and even Singapore.”

The statues he shared are made of clay, marble, and resin. “I have created a total of 20 large statues so far and prefer not to rush my work to ensure good results. And have worked on about 200 restoration and painting projects.”

When asked which of his works so far is his favourite, the parishioner of the Church of St Francis Xavier Petaling Jaya, said, “They are all my favourites!”

Raymond said he finds joy in turning his inspiration, guided by divine intervention, into reality. “I feel a lot of peace when working on my statues, and I am very excited to come to my workshop every day,” he said, adding that he does not replicate statues online or from images unless they are custom-made orders who asked him to do so.

“The idea of how to sculpt the statues just comes to me when I sit down and decide to make one. Before I start, I always pray and ask our Blessed Mother to help me each and every time,” he said and added that once completed, he uploads his work on his social media channels (Raymond Artistry) for sale.

For customers who send him pictures to replicate a statue, Raymond said they often say the one he did looks better. “When they give me a reference, I will always add my ideas through our communication, and once the statues are completed, they will tell me that the one I have done is better than the image they sent me,” he said.

However, he did not deny that there were a couple of instances where customers were not satisfied with their orders. “It was for a cross and a Sacred Heart statue that are still here,” he pointed to the two recent works.

When asked about the time he takes to complete a statue, he said it varies: “Small statues take about three days, while bigger ones can take one and a half weeks to a month, depending on the detailing.”

He added that he prefers the gentle colours and features of Catholic statues and feels a sense of calm working on them.
Raymond also added that the Catholic Ministry for the Deaf (CMfD) had provided him with many opportunities and exposure during events for the Deaf to showcase his work. ”I recently had a booth at the Church of the Holy Rosary during the International Day of Sign Language 2024 celebration to sell my handmade statues, artwork, and scented candles.”

He shared that his passion for art began early. He pursued graphic design at Lim Kok Wing University, where he relied on interpreters and friends to navigate the challenges posed by his limited English proficiency. His determination to learn and grow was evident as he continuously sought assistance and guidance to improve his skills.

After graduation, he worked as a graphic designer for a private company, designing cards, clothes, and posters. He also taught graphic design and sign language to special needs students aged 10-16. Despite being valued for his talent, Raymond yearned for creative freedom, feeling constrained by the demands of his job, which did not give him the satisfaction he longed for.

Raymond’s career took a significant turn during the lockdown. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to his layoff, pushing him to reconsider his career path. Encouraged by his family, Raymond decided to venture into sculpture, a field he had always been passionate about. “But I wasn’t sure if I was skilled enough to begin. I remember praying a lot about it, and God spoke to me to not be afraid and let the Holy Spirit guide me.”

He spent a year practicing clay work at home, striving for perfection in colour mixing and quality. His dedication paid off as he began taking orders in 2021 with the support of his family members, who constantly and very proudly shared his work through word of mouth.

Raymond’s journey was not without challenges. Initially struggling to promote his work, he turned to social media platforms for help. “I tried posting on Instagram, but it wasn’t that encouraging, so I decided to try uploading my work videos on TikTok, which helped a lot!”

Some of the restoration work he has done includes a 6.5-foot statue of Our Lady of Fatima, completed in just three days; a week-long restoration of a statue of St Joseph, involving intricate colour work and repair of weather-damaged parts; and repainting and restoring the half-broken face of Baby Jesus on a statue of Our Lady of Good Health.

“Churches also bring over statues, for example, the Church of St Jude, Rawang. And if the statues are big, I would go to the church, such as for the Church of Christ the King in Selayang.

Raymond also tours churches to collect and restore broken statues, offering them for those interested with a token in kind or hands them away as gifts, emphasising respect and restoration over disposal. “A lot of families find handed-down statues while decluttering and will bring them over to me to restore and repaint.”

He also expressed his willingness to work with Ecology and Environment teams in parishes to collect statues from churches and restore them.

“Besides this, I also create graphics for holy pictures, then print and frame them for sale. I also make acrylic holy picture paintings on canvas and scented candles at RM15.”

His social media presence has made him a recognisable figure, even among non-Catholics. “A lot of people now recognise me from my videos on Instagram and TikTok when I walk along the streets in KL or even in Singapore recently for the papal Mass, but they don’t realise that I am deaf,” he said.

He mentioned that those who approached him included non-Catholics who have followed him on social media for up to three years.

“But sometimes it gets frustrating because I am excited to communicate but can’t fully engage with them as they don’t know sign language, so I have to try hard to read lips, gesture to answer them, and type on my phone’s notepad,” he said, adding that he hopes more people will learn sign language to improve communication with individuals like him.

On the side, he also creates customised cake toppers for bakers and saree draping for Velankanni statues. His custom-made work ranges in price from RM80 to RM1,500, depending on size and details, while the ready-made statues range from RM20 to RM800. His work can be viewed or contacted through Instagram/Tik Tok at ‘Raymond Artistry’.

Raymond’s journey is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. His success is a testament to the power of faith, family, and unwavering dedication. His sculptures are not just works of art but symbols of hope and resilience, inspiring all who encounter them.

The interview session was interpreted by Veronica Cornelius (CMfD)