Dong Nai: 7-meter-deep cave recreates the ancient city of Belem in detail.

The artwork, over 7 meters long, at the Our Lady of Mount Cúi Pilgrimage Center is made from thousands of handcrafted details, the result of nearly 10 years of collecting by an artisan.

A large-scale Nativity scene model, over 7 meters long, is attracting a large number of parishioners and tourists at the Our Lady of Mount Cúi Pilgrimage Center in Thống Nhất commune, Đồng Nai province. The structure is impressive due to its thousands of exquisite handcrafted details, vividly recreating the scene of the ancient city of Bethlehem and the story of Jesus' birth.

A panoramic view of the Nativity scene model, over 7 meters long, at the Our Lady of Mount Cúi Pilgrimage Center.

This project is the result of nearly 10 years of dedication.

The creator of this unique work is Nguyen Minh Thien (born in 1993, residing in Long Binh ward, Dong Nai province). To create this large-scale artwork, he spent nearly 10 years collecting thousands of statue details and decorative accessories from various sources, mostly ordered from abroad.

"Each small statue tells a story. Only when I have enough scenes to depict the whole scene do I dare to start working on a large-scale nativity scene," Thien shared.

Small details such as stalls and water jugs are meticulously handcrafted.

Exquisite craftsmanship

While the statues themselves are the result of a collecting process, the entire landscape, from rocky mountains and streams to streets and markets, was created by Mr. Thien himself. He used simple materials like foam, terracotta, and paint to cut, carve, and shape the statues.

Each layer of stone, ancient wall section, basket, or fruit stall is handcrafted with a high degree of realism, allowing you to clearly see the texture and folds of the fabric. The streets and city walls are constructed using a multi-layered perspective, creating depth for the overall structure. When the lighting system is switched on, a miniature "Belem" comes to life.

The scene of a traditional market is recreated with many detailed stalls.

Retell the Christmas story vividly.

The Nativity scene is divided into several segments, corresponding to each event in the Christmas story. The scenes, from the angel's announcement to the Virgin Mary, the dream for Joseph, to the moment of Jesus' birth in the stable, are all arranged in a coherent manner.

Alongside this are scenes of villagers working and trading, earthen roofs, red-hot ovens, and a traditional market. According to the author, this allows viewers not only to see the moment of Christ's birth but also to experience the social and cultural life of that time.

"Compared to last year, this year's cave is 2 meters longer and has been supplemented with many new miniature landscapes," Thiện said.

The model recreates scenes of daily life for people at that time.

Unique Christmas attractions

Surprisingly, Thien has never received any formal training in fine arts or architecture. All his skills are self-taught, stemming from his passion for visual arts. For him, this project is a spiritual gift to the community, spreading joy and peace during the Christmas season.

Since its completion, the grotto has become a unique tourist attraction and photo-taking spot in Dong Nai. Representatives from the Our Lady of Mount Cui Pilgrimage Center consider it one of the most impressive grotto models in terms of scale and detail in the area, and anticipate it will attract a large number of visitors throughout this year's festival season.

The structure attracts many tourists who come to visit and take photos.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/dong-nai-hang-da-7m-tai-hien-thanh-co-belem-chi-tiet-3314543.html