Professor Nguyen Xuan Tien: Bien Hoa Pottery - great potential for developing cultural industry

Professor, People's Teacher Nguyen Xuan Tien (middle) visits Bien Hoa pottery at Dong Nai College of Decorative Arts. Photo: L.Na

In order for Bien Hoa - Dong Nai pottery to continue to develop, spread, and reach out to the international market, according to Professor, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Tien, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association, there needs to be a combination of tradition and modernity; in particular, applied art products from Bien Hoa pottery have great potential to develop the cultural industry.

* Professor Nguyen Xuan Tien, Bien Hoa pottery is a pottery line with a long history. In your opinion, what are the outstanding characteristics of Bien Hoa pottery?

- Bien Hoa - Dong Nai pottery has its own characteristics, from materials, glaze colors to firing techniques, carving, shaping. Not only famous domestically, but since the 1920s-1930s, Bien Hoa pottery has been known to many countries around the world . Currently, Bien Hoa artisans are very skillful in combining traditional elements with modern spirit, creating ceramic products that are not only valuable in use but also rich in art.

How do you evaluate the role of events such as the Ceramic Festival and large-scale ceramic exhibitions at Dong Nai College of Decorative Arts in promoting the Bien Hoa ceramic brand?

- These are very meaningful events in promoting the Bien Hoa - Dong Nai ceramic brand, especially in the context of developing and spreading local cultural values. The exhibitions have brought together many artists, from famous people to young authors, students, and pupils, expressing their passion and love for traditional ceramic materials.

Ceramic products displayed at the events are very rich and diverse in terms of topics, themes, and genres, clearly demonstrating investment in techniques and creative thinking. More importantly, many works bring the public into the world of shapes and colored glazes, to fully experience the beauty of Bien Hoa ceramics.

* What do you think about the visual language and artistic value of Bien Hoa ceramic works today, when they both retain traditional identities such as bronze glaze and folk patterns, and have strong innovations in composition and shape?

- In recent exhibitions, many Bien Hoa ceramic works show a unique blend of tradition and modernity. The artists still preserve the original elements such as folk patterns, bronze glaze - typical of Bien Hoa ceramics, but at the same time boldly innovate in composition and shaping. These works not only demonstrate the sophistication in the language of shaping but also open up a new approach to Vietnamese ceramic art. Thereby, helping to elevate Bien Hoa ceramics to become a cultural symbol capable of adapting and developing in the flow of contemporary art.

Professor, Doctor, People's Teacher NGUYEN XUAN TIEN is a sculptor with many outstanding contributions to contemporary Vietnamese fine arts. With many years of teaching and managing at fine arts training institutions, he has contributed to training many generations of talented artists, participating in many major sculpture exhibitions at home and abroad.

* To preserve and promote the value of Bien Hoa pottery in the context of integration, in your opinion, what solutions does Dong Nai need?

- Bien Hoa pottery is gradually recovering and is increasingly being widely promoted in the community, contributing to affirming the unique cultural values ​​of Dong Nai land. This is also the motivation for Dong Nai to continue its efforts to train pottery, attract students to pursue traditional professions, develop cultural industries through applied art products, especially ceramic products. In the context of integration, training human resources, connecting businesses, expanding the space to introduce and display ceramic products to the public at home and abroad... are necessary tasks for Bien Hoa pottery to continue to develop sustainably and spread widely.

* What do you expect from the development of Bien Hoa pottery in the future, especially its role in contemporary art life and preserving traditional cultural values?

- With what has been done and is being done, I believe that in the future, Bien Hoa pottery will not only be recognized as a valuable traditional cultural heritage, but also become a potential and driving force to promote the cultural industry, contributing to the sustainable development of the local economy. The harmonious combination of tradition and innovation in design and shaping will create ceramic products that are both highly artistic and applicable and competitive in both domestic and international markets. This is the practical direction for Bien Hoa pottery to both preserve its cultural essence and reach out to the world as a typical cultural and economic product of Dong Nai.

* Thank you!

My Ny (performed)

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202505/gs-ts-nguyen-xuan-tien-gom-bien-hoa-tiem-nang-lon-de-phat-trien-cong-nghiep-van-hoa-7bb2733/