Befriend wood
From his time as a sculpture student at Hue University of Arts, Truong Tran Dinh Thang had already determined the artistic path he would pursue. Although he studied and worked with many different materials, he decided to choose wood as his creative "language" because it is a familiar, readily available, and accessible material. After graduating, Dinh Thang tirelessly created, breathing life into pieces of wood to form unique works of art, contributing to enriching and spreading the value of his hometown's art.
Dinh Thang shared that he occasionally creates works using other materials such as stone or cement to meet market demands or for exhibitions. However, wood remains the most consistent and closely associated material in his artistic journey.
He explained that sculptors usually come up with ideas first and then look for suitable materials to express them. But for him, when working with wood, the process is completely reversed. The natural shape and composition of the piece of wood he finds inspires him with ideas for a future artwork. He "listens" to the wood, feeling the grain and texture to visualize the form of the artwork and sketch out the finished product.
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| Despite being exposed to many different art materials, Truong Tran Dinh Thang still decided to choose wood as his creative "language" - Photo: Nh.V |
The creative process demands sensitivity, subtlety, and the ability to recognize the hidden beauty in raw materials. There are themes he has long cherished, but realizing them requires a great deal of time searching for suitable materials. Although wood isn't scarce, finding a block of wood with the exact shape and artistic requirements of the sketch is no easy feat, sometimes taking months, or even longer. Interestingly, during these arduous journeys, he often stumbles upon uniquely shaped blocks of wood, sparking new inspiration, helping him develop existing sketches, or even generating entirely new creative ideas.
According to Truong Tran Dinh Thang: To complete a sculpture, the artist first sketches the idea on paper, then creates a trial shape using clay. Once the form of the artwork is clearly defined, they proceed with carving it in wood. This is a long and elaborate process, requiring patience, meticulousness, and skill in every detail. The artist "lives with the artwork," pouring all their energy into breathing life into the block of wood, transforming it into a vibrant work of art.
Family is a source of inspiration.
Truong Tran Dinh Thang's artistic journey began in his family home. His connection to art started with his father, an art teacher, who instilled in him a passion for creativity from a young age. For over 15 years since graduating and pursuing a career in sculpture, Dinh Thang's artistic world has revolved around familiar values: family affection, the image of women, and motherhood. This wasn't a random choice, but rather the culmination of his experiences, memories, and profound emotions. For Truong Tran Dinh Thang, sculpture is the language he uses to honor sacred feelings, tell touching stories about family, and convey profound messages about the meaning of home, motherhood, and sharing.
Using wood as his medium, each of his works has its own unique style, focusing on richly portraying the inner world of the characters. Representative works such as "Family," "Welcoming Mother Home," "The Story of a Woman," and "The Soldier's Rear"... are clear evidence of the artistic path imbued with humanistic values that he persistently pursues.
Artist Nguyen Luong Sang, Chairman of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association branch in the province, shared that Truong Tran Dinh Thang is one of the young artists who has explored and defined his own unique expressive language. Thang's sculptures are not elaborate or flashy, but simple and rustic, true to the warm and familiar nature of wood. The themes he depicts, such as family, women, history, and homeland, are familiar yet still bear a strong personal imprint and creative personality. Dinh Thang is considered a representative of the younger generation, continuing the tradition of his homeland's fine arts. With his diligence, passion, and unwavering love for wood, it is believed that Dinh Thang will continue to tell many touching stories about human relationships and home, through his own simple yet profound sculptural language.
Truong Tran Dinh Thang's talent was recognized very early on. Even as a student, he won the A prize at the art exhibition for students of Hue University of Arts. He also had many impressive works at national art exhibitions, national sculpture exhibitions, and regional exhibitions in the North Central region...
Sharing his future aspirations, Truong Tran Dinh Thang said he always hopes to have more opportunities to bring sculpture into public spaces. This not only contributes to the aesthetic value of the city but also provides an opportunity to bring art closer to the public. In the future, he will continue to create new, high-quality works to participate in exhibitions, while also planning to undertake small projects such as erecting statues in parks and grounds in his hometown.
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Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/van-hoa/202511/nguoi-ke-chuyen-bang-go-6753113/
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