Unique paintings and sculptures made from clay mixed with copper powder.

After a period of diligent research, in early 2024, artisan Do Huu Triet (51 years old, residing at 66 Chi Lang Street, Hue City, Thua Thien - Hue Province) successfully created Viet Kim Dieu - a material formed from clay mixed with copper powder.

Explaining the name, Mr. Do Huu Triet said that "kim" means metal, "dieu" means ceramic, and "viet" represents Vietnam and the superiority of this material.

"Viet Kim Dieu is a purely Vietnamese material, formed from a mixture of copper powder and clay, allowing artists to create paintings, sculptures, and other works in a completely new way," Mr. Triet said.

Artist Do Huu Triet with a rather heavy statue made from Vietnamese gold leaf.

Mixing copper powder with clay at a ratio of less than 50% results in paintings and sculptures that, when fired, produce a very durable material that is half ceramic and half metal.

Because it is a metal-containing mixture, the sintering temperature of Vietnamese gold leaf is only around 900 degrees Celsius. Along with low shrinkage, this material is very convenient for sculptors and fine artists to use in their creations.

In particular, Vietnamese gilded paintings, when glazed and fired, exhibit a unique and beautiful metallic sheen due to the fusion of glaze and metal, a feature not found in other materials.

The painting was created using clay mixed with copper powder, then glazed with cloisonné enamel, resulting in unique colors.

As an expert in cloisonné enamel – a material widely used in the restoration of historical monuments in the Hue Imperial Citadel – Mr. Do Huu Triet has taken a creative step by applying cloisonné enamel to works of art made from Vietnamese gold lacquer.

Through numerous experiments, Mr. Triet has created many Vietnamese gold-leaf paintings combined with cloisonné enamel, resulting in an impressive color harmony that cannot be found anywhere else.

Thanh Nien newspaper would like to introduce some of the creative processes involved in making Vietnamese gold leaf, along with some of the outstanding works created by artisan Do Huu Triet:

The Vietnamese painting, "Viet Kim Dieu," was framed on a 60 x 60 cm industrial ceramic tile.

At first glance, Vietnamese gold dust is no different from clay in color.

The artist has ample creative freedom because the Vietnamese gold leaf is an easily moldable material.

After the crafting process, the paintings and sculptures are fired in a glazed enamel oven.

Because they are made from clay mixed with copper powder, statues from Viet Kim Dieu have a metallic sheen and are quite heavy.

Paintings from Viet Kim Dieu have a unique color harmony.

A painting that clearly displays metallic sheen and cloisonné hues.

Vietnamese gold leaf paintings combined with cloisonné enamel are gradually becoming a new art form.

Mr. Do Huu Triet has submitted this painting to the UOB Painting of the Year 2024 competition (one of the prestigious art competitions in Southeast Asia).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doc-la-tranh-tuong-duoc-lam-tu-dat-set-pha-bot-dong-185241014110412451.htm