The sculptures here are rustic and full of life. The village and the sculptures are magically beautiful, their beauty blossoming from things that seemed destined to be discarded. This is both an exhibition space and an inspiration for artistic transcendence, stories of memories...
Listen... to the wood tell its story.
The moss-covered tiled roofs of Hoi An still bear the marks of time, and the Thu Bon River still gently meanders through centuries, enriching the memories of the land and its people. Each rainy season, the muddy, turbulent waters surge and rage, posing unpredictable dangers, only to be left bare on the damp banks after the flood, withered logs, rotten wood, and gnarled tree roots... Many see the decay, but some recognize the hidden beauty that can be reborn! Artist Le Ngoc Thuan is one such person.
Artist Le Ngoc Thuan, a son of Quang Nam province, deeply felt the stories of floods and storms and expressed them through art. From his emotions to his skillful hands and heartfelt appreciation for life, his artworks, along with those of his collaborators, have revived the floodwaters, laying the foundation for a small village with a simple name: Floodwater Village, located in Hoi An Tay ward (Da Nang city). There, floodwaters have become the material of memory, and also the beginning of a colorful journey of rebirth in life, in a humane, profound, and moving way.
In 2012, while focusing on building a small homestay on An Bang beach, Le Ngoc Thuan began noticing logs washed ashore by the waves after each storm. Some had rough trunks, others were worn down… but with his sensitive soul and artistic eye, he recognized their rustic yet unique beauty. “At that time, I simply thought about cleaning the beach, gathering firewood to decorate the space and make it more interesting. So I diligently scrubbed, polished, and crafted them… But when guests came, they were surprised to learn that these items were once flood-borne logs. They asked questions, listened to my stories… and something very touching seemed to light up in their eyes. That’s when I started thinking more deeply: if these logs could tell stories, then I would be the one to help them speak,” Thuan shared. From that beginning, unexpectedly, these flood-borne logs nourished Thuan’s spirit and life. The idea of an art space created using driftwood began to take shape. Initially, Mr. Thuan made small items: picture frames, lamps, simple animal figurines… the more he made, the more passionate he became. Each piece of wood and driftwood has its own unique shape; no two works are alike, just like the stories of human life, always diverse and colorful, though arduous and challenging, also beautiful and wondrous.
Hoi An in particular, and the central region of Vietnam in general, frequently suffer from natural disasters, especially severe floods. After each flood, Mr. Thuan stands by the river and the sea, watching the logs and firewood drift ashore, his heart filled with emotion... Each piece of wood and firewood seems to represent either happiness or loss...
In that moment, he decided to use art to alleviate his pain.
In 2020, Thuan decided to pursue his dream of building the Cui Lu Village in a systematic way. He traveled extensively to learn about the culture of the Co Tu ethnic group, visiting the Kim Bong carpentry village to listen to artisans talk about traditional carving to sketch out his initial ideas. Although not a formally trained artist, Le Ngoc Thuan possesses a sensitive eye and a warm heart, blended with passion, identity, and love for his homeland. Logs gradually transformed into winding dragons, ancient house sculptures, vibrant zodiac animals, and even miniature images of Hoi An's old town. All the works are handcrafted, from carving to detailed depictions, both rustic and full of emotion. In 2022, Cui Lu Village officially became an art exhibition space in the heart of Hoi An. Nestled amidst lush green rice fields, this place embodies the essence of a traditional craft village, a creative workshop, an experiential learning space, and, most importantly, a place that connects people through familiar materials. Visitors can admire hundreds, even thousands, of artworks made from river wood, and hear stories about the journey of the wood from the deep forests, upstream, stopping at the river mouth, and then reaching the hands of artisans to live on and take on a new life and appearance. People can try their hand at carving, painting on the wood, or simply sit quietly beside the artwork, feeling the breath of life, nature, and people through each grain and texture of the wood.
Reaching out to the world
After nearly four years in its inception, Củi Lũ has transcended the confines of a small, private dream. Thuận and over 20 skilled craftsmen have created thousands of pieces, receiving orders from numerous large hotels, resorts, and collectors both domestically and internationally. For Thuận and his team, the most important thing remains spreading the message: even things that seem worthless can shine if we know how to love them and give them a chance to live on...
In particular, with the organization of the "Inspiring Heritage" visual arts workshop in July 2025, Củi Lũ village has marked a new milestone in its development journey, contributing to making Hoi An a regional-level creative destination. For the first time, a large-scale workshop with the participation of 12 domestic and international artists was held right in Củi Lũ village, amidst a space steeped in heritage but open to contemporary approaches. During the days of experience and creation, the artists absorbed more of Hoi An's essence, from the morning markets, the melancholic beauty of ancient roofs, the sound of waves crashing on An Bàng beach, or the twilight glow on the Thu Bồn river, transforming it into many experimental and multilingual artistic works.
Củi Lũ Village has been expanding into a center connecting artists, locals, and tourists to interact, share, and co-create. Children get to paint on wood themselves; foreign tourists enthusiastically learn how to carve and create; and local carpenters participate in exhibitions as creators and storytellers...
The stories of Củi Lũy are gradually reaching the world, with works previously exhibited in Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, and other locations continuing to be showcased at international cultural exchange events.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/hanh-trinh-tai-sinh-tu-lang-cui-lu-post898132.html
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