The sound of chiseling awakens the tranquil atmosphere at Lem Coffee. There, many people touch wood for the first time, allowing their emotions to guide them under the direction of artist Dinh Nhat Tan – a H're artist who has dedicated 15 years to wood carving in the Central Highlands.
This activity was initiated and supported by Mr. Tan himself. On 20x20 cm wooden planks, visitors can draw their favorite things: it could be a flower, an eagle soaring through the sky, or an image of an elephant with its companion caring for and taming it… Afterwards, visitors are guided to carve on the wood.
Every stroke of the chisel, every carving line, is accompanied by artist Dinh Nhat Tan. He teaches how to hold the tools, maintain harmonious forms and shapes, so that from the raw, rustic wood, a work of art imbued with the breath of life gradually emerges.
While carefully handling each piece of wood, artist Dinh Nhat Tan slowly shared: "Wood carving in the Central Highlands has two main sources. One is spiritual, present in the world of tomb statues - places where the souls and beliefs of the people are entrusted to the eternal realm."
The other style is more decorative, present on house pillars, stair railings, or familiar objects, beautifying everyday life.
"Here, I'm simply borrowing the language of folk sculpture to introduce you to it in the most natural way. The most important thing is to pour your soul and emotions into each carving, to tell your own story on each piece of wood," Mr. Tan shared.
Mr. Y Sol ( from Dak Lak province) was one of the first to participate in the experience. He chose to sculpt the image of an elephant alongside its trainer—an image symbolic of Dak Lak province and also something familiar in the daily life of his village.
Y Sôl's father was an elephant trainer and caretaker, so in his memory, the image of the gentle animal and its devoted companion had become very familiar. Y Sôl said: "Thanks to Mr. Tân, I was able to turn the ideas in my head into carvings on wood. Each chisel stroke brings back memories of my childhood in the village."
For Vo Thi Diem Huong (also from Dak Lak), this was her first time trying her hand at wood carving, but it was a challenging yet exciting journey.
From the initial clumsy chisel strokes to the gradual formation of the fish, it took her almost a full day to complete. “It was an experience that kept me on the edge of my imagination. The beauty of wood carving is both rustic and thought-provoking, making me want to delve deeper into the culture of the Central Highlands,” she shared.
Choosing the image of an eagle flying under the sun, Mr. Dinh Dai Da (a H're ethnic minority from Quang Ngai province) sees it as a symbol of strength and unwavering will. He shared: "Touching folk wood carvings, one can truly feel the perseverance of the people. In return, I have moments of complete immersion in the work, forgetting about time, with only emotions and wood remaining."
Nestled amidst the lush green pine forest beside the "eyes of Pleiku," the wood carving workshop offers a moment of tranquility, allowing participants to let their minds wander and listen to the dialogue between the wood and their hearts.
The basic course is just one day long, enough for visitors to experience a unique aspect of Central Highlands culture. For those who want to go further, artist Dinh Nhat Tan also offers advanced classes, taking students into the world of symbolic folk art.
More than just a creative experience, the workshops initiated by artist Dinh Nhat Tan serve as bridges connecting us to the pristine beauty of Central Highlands culture.
Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/cham-vao-ve-dep-dieu-khac-go-dan-gian-tay-nguyen-post565780.html
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