The ups and downs of pottery making
In pottery making, clay is of paramount importance, determining its survival and development. It is precisely because of the abundant clay resources, suitable for creating durable products, that the first artisans chose Van Son as their place of work more than 70 years ago.
During its heyday, Van Son pottery village had over 50 households engaged in the craft, with products being transported by traders to all parts of the country. However, nowadays, due to the depletion of clay resources, only a few households remain in the former craft village, quietly clinging to the trade and keeping the pottery flame from fading away.
Having been involved in pottery making for nearly 50 years, Mr. Tran Tan Phat understands the ups and downs of the craft better than anyone else. He shared: “In the past, local clay was abundant; we only needed to dig it up and process it briefly to mold it into jars, pots, kettles, etc. But now it's almost completely depleted. People have to buy rice paddy clay (called deep clay), which is both costly and makes the quality of the pottery incomparable to before.”
Besides a shortage of raw materials, Van Son pottery products also face fierce competition in the modern market. Today, products made from industrial ceramics, plastic, stainless steel, and glass, with their advantages of being lightweight, durable, diverse in design, and inexpensive, easily dominate the market.
Meanwhile, traditional handcrafted ceramic products, which require a lot of effort from shaping to finishing, are gradually losing ground and struggling to gain a foothold.
The mounting difficulties have cast an increasingly bleak shadow over the traditional craft village. Most of the once blazing kilns are now cold and unused. Only a few elderly artisans remain in the village, stubbornly clinging to their craft.
Despite being over 50 years old and having been involved in pottery making for nearly three decades, Mr. Nguyen Tan Khai is still known as the "young potter." This is because he is the youngest person in the village still practicing the craft.
Mr. Khai shared: "Since I was a child, I've followed my parents digging clay and making pottery. Now I'm used to it and can't give it up. I do it out of passion, because I want to preserve the craft of my ancestors."
Find a new direction
Amidst the somber landscape of Van Son pottery village, glimmers of hope still shine through, fueled by the innovation and creativity of the younger generation. One of those who breathes this new life into the craft is Ms. Do Thi Thanh Van, Director of Van Son Pottery Enterprise (Quy Nhon Dong ward). She has over 15 years of experience in interior design.
During her search for suitable materials for her modern living space, Ms. Van realized that ceramics possess a unique beauty that can be subtly applied in interior decoration.
From that opportunity, in 2023, she decided to collaborate with the people of Van Son pottery village, seeking to breathe new life into products that were previously only familiar in rural life.
The product range includes: column ornaments, corner ornaments, wall moldings, pots, vases, and jars… Goods are mainly sold online, in markets both within and outside the province.
Ms. Vân shared: “The current trend is to return to simplicity and closeness to nature. In this regard, ceramic products with their pristine earthy colors, created by the hands of artisans, perfectly fulfill that desire.”
This new way of thinking has opened up opportunities for Van Son pottery to become decorative and artistic products, helping the craft village find its place in contemporary life.
Previously, Van Son pottery was mainly plain, without patterns or motifs, embodying a rustic charm but lacking the distinctiveness to compete. Recognizing this limitation, Ms. Van boldly experimented with incorporating patterns and motifs into her products, while also designing new molds to enhance aesthetic value and increase accessibility to modern customers.
That journey was not easy, as it required preserving the inherent rustic charm while meeting market demands. But thanks to the support and contributions of a number of dedicated artisans, Van Son pottery products with a new spirit have emerged and are initially receiving positive feedback from consumers.
Despite facing many difficulties, Van Son pottery village has not faded away. A glimmer of hope is kindled by the creativity of young people like Ms. Do Thi Thanh Van, along with the dedication of elderly artisans who tirelessly work day and night by the kilns to preserve the craft.
The synergy between modernity and tradition is creating opportunities for Van Son pottery to adapt to the market, affirm its cultural value, and move towards a sustainable future.
Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/huong-di-moi-cho-lang-gom-van-son-post570361.html
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