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138 out of a total of 250 ceramic works were selected for display at the Ceramics Exhibition at the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association. This is the result of the ceramic creation process of 48 authors (including 20 member authors and 28 self-funded authors) participating in the 2023 Fine Arts Ceramics Workshop at Phuoc Du Long Ceramics Company - Binh Duong.
Travellive had the opportunity to chat with artist Vu Trung Tan, who brings forth ceramic works with many details deeply rooted in ancient Vietnamese culture.
Portrait of painter Vu Trung Tan.
PV: Hello, artist. For you, what are the differences in the individuality or artistic style of an artist when painting and when making pottery?
Artist Vu Trung Tan:It can be said that works of art, whether paintings or ceramics, when presented to the public, largely reflect the personality and character of the artist.
Besides lacquer and oil painting, I am also very passionate about ceramic art and love traditional Vietnamese culture. Traditional Vietnamese patterns, reliefs, and decorative motifs are always a source of inspiration for my ceramic works. Therefore, my ceramic pieces clearly reflect my interest in and love for traditional Vietnamese culture.
The patterns are inspired by ancient culture.
PV: Ceramic worksThe arrangement of warm and cool colors in this exhibition is quite interesting. Could you share more about the process of creating these glazed ceramic pieces?
Artist Vu Trung Tan:I don't lean heavily towards either light or dark colors for each piece, but rather balance warm and cool tones to create harmony. The philosophy of "yin and yang and the five elements" also influences the color scheme I choose for my works.
To produce ceramic products with natural colors, the pieces must be glazed and fired in a wood-fired kiln. Wood-fired kilns don't yield the same perfectly uniform color results as electric kilns, but they create spontaneous details thanks to the random temperature and heat. Each time I participate in a workshop, I have to travel hundreds of kilometers from home to the workshop and back. But my love and passion for ceramics are so great that the long distance is not an obstacle for me.
PV: This ceramics exhibition features many family portraits with stylized patterns and motifs. Can you share more about a particularly noteworthy piece?
Artist Vu Trung Tan:In the artwork "Wealth and Prosperity," the woman appears in the background, with both hands grasping a rooster in front of her. The rooster here symbolizes the man of the family.
The rooster, with its five characteristics in both appearance and nature, can be likened to the five qualities of "literature, martial prowess, righteousness, courage, and trustworthiness" that a mature and complete man strives for.
The artwork "Wealth and Prosperity".
In this context, the rooster's comb is often compared to a scholar's hat, representing education and intelligence – or what is known as "literature." The rooster's spurs are seen as a "weapon" in battles, and can also be seen as representing a man's "martial arts" or strength. Whether sunny or rainy, the rooster always "keeps its word" by crowing on time. This characteristic of the rooster can also be likened to the "trustworthiness" that a man should possess. Finally, the rooster always shares food with hens and chicks when it finds it, which can also be seen as "righteousness" – a quality that a man should embody.
Even an outstanding man possessing all the above qualities is not enough to build a complete family without the presence of a woman behind him. A woman always plays a crucial role in "building a home," preserving family happiness with her gentle yet firm and flexible approach to managing household affairs, especially guiding her husband towards what is good for him. I call such a complete family "Prosperous and Noble."
The artwork "Mother with a Baby" depicts a mother caring for her child in the modern era, holding her baby in her arms while still diligently working extra jobs to make ends meet.
His ceramic works impressed visitors to the exhibition.
With the artist's skillful hands, the ceramic works come to life. He breathes life into seemingly lifeless lumps of clay, imbuing them with layers of culture and stories intertwined with the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.
The Ceramics Exhibition is an annual event organized by the Association to allow ceramics enthusiasts to freely express their creativity and contribute to the field of fine arts, enriching the diversity and richness of ceramic materials.
Through the artist's creative journey, from shaping the clay, applying the glaze, to firing the finished product, impressive ceramic works are created. Among them, the works marked with red paper are those selected by the preliminary committee to be further displayed in the upcoming exhibition "Report on the Achievements of the Creative Camp & New Creations 2023," featuring 54 individual works and groups of works.
Notably, this time the Association has invited two authors from Hue, four authors from Japan, and five authors from South Korea to exhibit their works alongside authors from Ho Chi Minh City.
