Tran-Vo Ceramics: A meeting of earth, fire, and creativity.

Artist Tran Chi Ly (seated) and artist Vo Van Viet at the Tran-Vo ceramics exhibition in Thuan An ward, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Cam Thanh

The Tran-Vo ceramics exhibition, currently on display in Thuan An ward, Ho Chi Minh City, goes beyond simply showcasing artworks; it also sparks profound reflections on the creative journey and the face of contemporary Vietnamese ceramics.

Tradition and innovation converge.

At the exhibition, viewers can enjoy over 200 ceramic works created by two artists, Tran Chi Ly and Vo Van Viet, who have been dedicated to the art of "clay sculpting" for decades. The works are rich and diverse in design, created using a multi-layered glaze technique, allowing the glaze to interact and form natural, irregular yet captivating structures, each reflecting the unique style of the artist. Many pieces are larger than the human body, entirely handcrafted, and fired at 1000°C.

Artist Tran Chi Ly (born in 1966) is a prominent figure in contemporary art in the Southeast region of Vietnam. For many years, he has explored and experimented with various materials, from traditional Vietnamese paper (do paper), lacquer, and acrylic to installations on wood and ceramics. Artist Tran Chi Ly is a member of the Fine Arts Committee of the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association, and is active in both artistic creation and teaching in Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City.

In particular, the ceramics of artist Tran Chi Ly are largely created in an abstract style, with many figurative elements, often suggesting human figures. The surfaces of his ceramic works are treated to be rough and dull, giving the pieces the feeling of ancient artifacts buried by time or salvaged from the seabed. This style evokes contemplation of memory, history, and layers of cultural sediment.

Artist Tran Chi Ly stated: “A successful installation is not about viewers understanding the artist's message immediately, but rather about viewers pondering the issue, asking themselves questions, and answering them in their own way. Besides creative individuality, the cultural characteristics of the region, the natural landscape, and the living environment also significantly influence the artist's conceptualization.”

Artist Vo Van Viet (born in 1969) is a ceramic artist, notable for his sophisticated blend of traditional techniques and contemporary style. After graduating from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts, he began to develop his own artistic style and participated in numerous international ceramic exhibitions.

For artist Vo Van Viet, the works displayed at the Tran-Vo ceramics exhibition also feature abstract forms, combined with colors and textures that evoke profound emotions. He particularly focuses on the interplay between tradition and modernity, creating works that are both familiar and highly creative. The surfaces of his ceramic pieces are subtly treated, preserving the natural material while creating visual depth – where each product is a quiet narrative, a unique and unrepeatable world .

Having spent many years practicing traditional pottery, artist Vo Van Viet has a thorough understanding of the properties of clay, the variations of glaze, and the harsh laws of firing. In his works, forms are restrained, lines are refined, and the focus is on inner emotion rather than showcasing technique. The glazes are not overly vibrant but subdued, sometimes earthy brown, sometimes ash gray, and some works are left completely unvarnished, as if returning the material to its original, pristine state.

The meeting of earth, fire, and creation.

The unique aspect of the Tran-Vo Ceramics Exhibition lies not only in the quantity or size of the works but also in how two distinct artistic personalities coexist in one space. While Tran Chi Ly's ceramics lean towards expression, rich in form and suggesting philosophical depth, Vo Van Viet's ceramics are quiet, rustic, serving as a support for viewers to slow down and contemplate. This juxtaposition doesn't create a sense of opposition; on the contrary, they complement and support each other.

The works of painters Tran Chi Ly (seated) and Vo Van Viet participated in the Tran-Vo Ceramics Exhibition in Thuan An Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

Earth and fire, through the hands of two artists, Tran Chi Ly and Vo Van Viet, carry their own stories, but when they meet, they create a harmonious whole, rich in dialogue. This dialogue contributes to elevating Vietnamese ceramics, taking them beyond the boundaries of traditional craftsmanship to confidently enter the international arena of sculpture and installation art. Viewers can clearly feel the creative journey and persistent labor behind each ceramic artwork in the exhibition.

As artist Nguyen Quoc Trong, a member of the Fine Arts Committee of the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association, shared: “The harmonious combination of ceramic art and impressive glaze materials has created an artistic space rich in emotion and aesthetic depth at the Tran-Vo ceramics exhibition. There, viewers realize that ceramics are no longer confined to the concept of traditional materials but have become a contemporary visual language.”

The Tran-Vo ceramics exhibition is not only a display of works by two artists deeply passionate about their craft, but also a vivid testament to the enduring vitality and innovative capacity of ceramics in the flow of contemporary art. The exhibition leaves a beautiful impression on the public, contributing to affirming the position of ceramics not only as a craft material, but also as a visual language rich in aesthetic value that needs to be preserved and promoted in today's life.

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