Artisans breathe life into lotus flowers on driftwood.

Born in the centuries-old Thiet Ung fine art woodworking village, Do Van Cuong heard the sounds of chisels and planes from the moment he was in his mother's womb, so his love for the craft came naturally to him. Growing up, his toys were scraps of wood, chisels, and awls...

Mr. Cuong recounted that in the early years of his business, he wasn't content with the conventional creations like Buddha statues, tables and chairs, horizontal plaques, and couplets. He yearned to create a line of handcrafted wooden art products with a unique style. Inspired by the sight of withered lotus leaves in autumn by the lake and the driftwood readily available in his workshop, after three years of relentless effort and countless failures, he finally created lotus blossoms and lotus leaves that possessed a soul, a serene and pure beauty.

Distinguished Artisan Dang Van Cuong has created his own unique style with the theme "Lotus on driftwood". Photo provided by the subject.

From there, he found his own direction and theme: lotus blossoms on driftwood. Not following any template, each of Do Van Cuong's works has its own unique style, based on the natural form of the wood. He meticulously creates every small detail, such as the protruding thorns on the lotus stems, the curves of the leaves, the way light reflects on the wood surface... His lotus blossoms on driftwood have won many awards at national applied art exhibitions and are highly appreciated by professionals in the field. In 2017, he was awarded the title of City Artisan by the Hanoi People's Committee; in early 2024, he became the youngest of the three outstanding artisans in Thiet Ung craft village. But for him, the most valuable reward remains the respect of his fellow craftsmen in the village.

Not only creative, Do Van Cuong is also a "keeper of the flame" for the craft village. As Chairman of the Thiet Ung Fine Arts Wood Carving Craft Village Association since 2019, he has encouraged many craftsmen in the village to participate in creative movements, promote products, and develop OCOP brands. His family's Hong Cuong production facility currently has 6 products certified with 3 to 4 stars, including the "King of the Forest" artwork which achieved a 4-star OCOP rating at the city level. Many products from the craft village have been exported to Japan, South Korea, the Middle East, etc., significantly contributing to increasing product value and income for the villagers.

For Mr. Cuong, this work is not just about the perfection of the carving lines, but also about the emotions and philosophy embedded in each piece of wood. Passionate about his craft and always hoping for a successor generation, for many years he has strived to cooperate with the local government and primary school to introduce and "pass on the torch" to young children, hoping that the traditional Thiet Ung wood carving craft of his ancestors will not fade away.

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/nghe-nhan-thoi-hon-sen-tren-go-lua-1013290