Reviving ancient pottery features through digital transformation

Originally from Kien Giang province, but driven by his deep love for Lai Thieu handcrafted pottery, Huynh Xuan Huynh (27 years old), residing in Thuan An city, boldly learned and promoted traditional products on social media. His efforts have contributed to the wider reach of Lai Thieu pottery.

Deeply attached to Lai Thieu pottery.

Back in his hometown, Huynh had always admired the wood-fired pottery of Lai Thieu, particularly the cups and plates his grandmother and mother owned. Therefore, when he started studying in Ho Chi Minh City in 2018, he visited several markets in Binh Duong to buy pottery.

The young owner of the pottery kiln, over 40 years old - Huynh Xuan Huynh. Photo: Shanghai

“I visited many markets, but the variety of pottery designs was no longer as extensive as before, and there was even competition from Chinese-made cups and plates. Then, I inquired at some pottery workshops in Tan Phuoc Khanh and Cho Bung… and learned that they no longer produce many products, the level of detail has decreased, and the younger generation has abandoned the craft and pursued other jobs,” Huynh recounted.

Having expertise in fine arts, Huynh negotiated with the workshop owner to buy a few items individually to paint and use himself. However, he had to place an order of over 100 items for the owner to agree. "Because there were so many, I took them to the city to sell at fairs and they were very popular. From then on, I considered this a side job to cover my study expenses," Huynh said.

The more he learned about Lai Thieu pottery, the more he loved it and wanted to learn more. Throughout his time in university, whenever he had free time, Huynh would take the bus to a pottery workshop in Thuan An City to study the techniques and paint pottery. Gradually, Huynh became determined to pursue this profession to preserve this cultural beauty.

Some of Mr. Huynh's beautiful Lai Thieu pottery products have been posted on social media platforms. Photo: Provided by the artist.

When he applied to become a craftsman, the kiln owner strongly opposed it, saying that a university graduate should choose a more leisurely profession rather than this "muddy" job, and even his own children wouldn't follow in his footsteps. But he remained determined because, in his opinion, the traditional Lai Thieu pottery was very beautiful, and it would be a great pity to abandon it.

Some of Mr. Huynh's beautiful Lai Thieu pottery products have been posted on social media platforms. Photo: Provided by the artist.

True to his word, after graduating, he moved to Binh Duong to live and work. To gain more experience, in addition to learning from seasoned potters, Huynh also diligently researched the traditional cultural values ​​of Lai Thieu pottery. Seeing his passion, the owner of the kiln, after retiring, left the more than 40-year-old kiln to him to manage. From there, this young kiln owner began to promote Lai Thieu pottery on social media.

The number of orders has increased significantly.

According to Mr. Huynh, although the traditional Lai Thieu pottery patterns are very beautiful, if these traditional features are preserved without innovation, they will surely be easily forgotten. Therefore, in addition to learning the ancient techniques of pottery painting, he also "breathes life" into them with modern inspiration.

"I chose patterns that, while new, are still familiar to people in Southern Vietnam, such as the water hyacinth and tangerine from my hometown of Kien Giang, or altar sets and jars decorated with vigorous lion and dragon motifs. From there, the products become more diverse but still remain true to tradition," he said.

Young workers in Mr. Huynh's pottery kiln. Photo: Shanghai

To gain wider recognition, Mr. Huynh created multiple social media accounts under the name "Nang Ceramics" to share his ceramic products and the production process. In his free time, he also livestreams to share the beauty of Lai Thieu ceramics. This has brought many positive responses to his pottery workshop.

“Many young people, restaurant and eatery owners who like the traditional Lai Thieu pottery have started contacting me to ask for design and place large orders. They say they want to find products like these but can't find them in the market. In addition, many customers in Japan, France, the US… also order because they see the beautiful Vietnamese handicrafts when I share them on social media,” Mr. Huynh happily said.

Depending on customer demand and design, Mr. Huynh's pottery workshop can produce 200-1,000 products per day, including various items such as cups, plates, bowls, jars, plant pots, altar sets, and art pieces, with prices ranging from tens of thousands of dong to tens of millions of dong. Thanks to digital transformation, the number of orders has increased by 30-50% compared to before, and can triple or quadruple during the Tet holiday.

What Mr. Huynh has always longed for is recognition for the long-standing pottery artisans of Lai Thieu. Photo: Shanghai

At Mr. Huynh's pottery workshop, besides the experienced craftsmen, the majority are young people, about 10 in total. These are young artisans who, with a love for Lai Thieu pottery, were invited by Mr. Huynh and have followed the craft ever since. Ms. Pham Nguyen Anh Thi (25 years old), residing in Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province, who has worked at the workshop for two years, shared: “I learned about Mr. Huynh's pottery workshop through a social media post and came to learn more because the lines, patterns, and designs of Lai Thieu pottery are so captivating. Initially, I faced many difficulties in shaping and measuring the thickness of the pottery, but the more I worked, the more I loved this job.”

Sharing his aspirations, Mr. Huynh said he wants images of Lai Thieu pottery to appear more often on social media so that more people know about it. Furthermore, he hopes this will become an inspiration for young people who want to pursue traditional cultural values.

“Raw materials are scarcer, and wood-fired kilns are no longer as popular, so I really want to improve and find sources of support. And, what I hope for most is that skilled craftsmen, who have been involved in the craft for over a decade, will be recognized as artisans, so that their efforts in beautifying Lai Thieu pottery are well-deserved,” Mr. Huynh confided.

Author: Shanghai

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/hoi-sinh-net-gom-xua-nho-chuyen-doi-so-post388494.html