Billionaire Aw Boon Haw's fantasy playgrounds in Hong Kong and Singapore are often described as 'grotesque', 'gruesome' and 'garish', Judith Brandel and Tina Turbeville acknowledge in the introduction to their book, Tiger Balm Gardens.
But when they saw the artificial parks together for the first time in 1973, they quite simply fell in love with them. Yes, they were outrageous, they write. But behind them was a fabulous personality - and a great story.
Combining their skills - photography in Brandel's case and graphic design and journalism in Turbeville's - the pair attempt to tell the story of Aw through the magical landscapes he bequeathed to society. They paint a glowing picture of a 'genius' with an uncanny knack for business and an unusual bent for philanthropy (50 per cent of his company's profits went to charity).
They also delve into the folk tales, mythology and tradition that filled his world. Though they are the first to admit they may have missed nuances in the subject matter because 'we're not Chinese' (both women are American) the caveat is unnecessary. Their enthusiasm for the project - one whose significance has been magnified with the imminent demise of Hong Kong's Tiger Balm Gardens - is evident in the careful captions and sumptuous shots that fill the pages.
The artwork is so impressive, in fact, that first-time visitors to the gardens in Hong Kong may come away feeling disappointed by the sculptures and grottoes that fill the hemmed-in site overlooking Causeway Bay - though the authors do point out that Hong Kong's gardens are a shabby version of Singapore's, where everything is 'freshly painted and cloaked in happy music'.
The authors' juxtaposition of old photos (mostly from the personal collection of Sally Aw Sian, who also shared with Brandel and Turbeville her memories of her father Aw Boon Haw) with recent shots is a highlight of the book.