Distinguished Artisan Tran Nam Tuoc:

Distinguished artisan Tran Nam Tuoc, a talented "hundred-craft" potter from Bat Trang pottery village, is holding his third exhibition, "Nam Tuoc - Pieces of a Puzzle," at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum (Hanoi), from August 2nd to 12th.

The exhibition showcases works inspired by ancient legends and cultural values, with high applicability in the fields of construction, architecture, and sculpture. Artist Tran Nam Tuoc shared his thoughts on the exhibition and his journey in the craft.

- Although not born in the pottery village, artisan Tran Nam Tuoc has been involved in the craft for over 25 years and has established a certain position. What led him to pottery?

- I was born in a rice-growing region and developed a connection with earth and fire through traditional brick kilns. In 1993, I started making pottery in my hometown. Then, in 1997, I moved to Bat Trang pottery village, where I felt like a fish from the river to the sea, free to create, explore , and experience with clay. Then, in 2007, I opened my own kiln.

Initially, I started in pottery as an assistant in kilns. However, I found Bat Trang glaze very beautiful, with many different styles of craftsmanship. I learned and dabbled in working with fire. During my time wandering through the countryside and exploring the fields, I hoped to find a style of pottery that I could call my own. From ancient times, in Vietnamese traditional culture, people used to decorate ceramic walls, curved roofs, pillars, and so on. Today, I design, decorate, and arrange these pieces to suit ongoing construction projects. I have been developing sculptures that embody the spirit and essence of the past, both to satisfy my craft and to offer pottery lovers and those who appreciate national history more choices for their collections.

- This is the third exhibition by artist Tran Nam Tuoc, following "Modern-day Mythical Creatures" (2023) and "Nam Tuoc - The Soul of the Land" (2024). Could you share the inspiration and main message of the exhibition "Nam Tuoc - Pieces of the Puzzle"?

- I consider myself a successor, a rewriter of the old, and the more I do it, the more passionate I become about traditional methods. The exhibition is a journey of discovery into the harmonious blend of art and life through works created from various materials and techniques that I have pursued for over 25 years.

Regarding the exhibition's title, I believe that each person is a piece of society, each profession, each experience has its own value. When these pieces are connected across generations, they gradually create a legacy. From legacy comes culture, and from culture comes history, a story. Once history and stories are formed, each nation will have its own voice and position.

I want to share the belief that, no matter who you are or what profession you have, everyone can contribute to the common heritage. I am just a small piece in the flow of contemporary culture, but if many small pieces come together, we can create a harmonious whole that is profound and meaningful.

- Could the artist elaborate on the three parts of the exhibition?

- Here, I present 35 works, divided into three parts. Part 1 includes traditional sculptural and decorative forms made of ceramic and terracotta, such as corner swords, pliers, and large-sized bronze lanterns. These artifacts are designed for application in contemporary cultural projects, from ceramic wall tiles and reliefs to multicolored enamel murals depicting folk tales and legends. Notably, the works featuring finials and ventilation openings in this section have been used in constructions for over 25 years.

Part 2 features wood carvings, such as the "Four Great Roosters (ò ó oo)" or the "12-Panel Trung Hieu Mon" gate set – which won first prize at the 2019 National Applied Arts Exhibition. These works are created using traditional carving techniques, combined with traditional blue and white or gilded lacquer. Part 3, for the first time, introduces hand-drawn sketches, design materials that I have applied to many real-world projects over the past two decades, to help people better understand my professional journey.

- You often mention the viewpoint, "What needs to be preserved should be preserved to the point of conservatism. And what doesn't need preservation should be given a new lease of life." Could you elaborate on that?

- In my opinion, the heritage left by our ancestors, both in material and spiritual aspects, must be preserved and protected intact. Those involved in creative work need to approach heritage with a developmental mindset. Heritage is the past, but that very past is the material we use to create the present and the future. I chose to work in applied art in construction and architecture from that perspective, preserving the soul of traditional heritage but expressing it through new visual languages ​​and modern techniques, suitable for contemporary spaces. In this way, heritage is not forgotten but its value is enhanced in today's life.

- What message do you want to convey through the exhibition "Baron - Pieces of a Puzzle"?

- I started as an outsider to pottery but gradually became deeply involved in the craft, wishing to contribute my small part to this field. Through this exhibition, I want to share my journey in the craft, and at the same time, I hope to connect with colleagues and especially the younger generation.

I hope young people will see themselves as part of the flow of contemporary culture. Each person is a "piece of the puzzle," and it is these new, creative, and experimental pieces that will make the Vietnamese cultural landscape richer and more vibrant.

- We sincerely thank the distinguished artisan Tran Nam Tuoc!

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nghe-nhan-uu-tu-tran-nam-tuoc-qua-khu-la-chat-lieu-de-ta-tao-nen-hien-tai-va-tuong-lai-712126.html