The person who "breathes life" into the art of clay sculpting.

From initial curiosity to enduring passion, Mr. Ngo Hoang Sang (Dao Thanh ward) has transformed lifeless pieces of clay into vivid miniature banana trees and bunches that look incredibly realistic. Few would have imagined that a watchmaker could "fall in love" with the art of clay sculpting and dedicate himself to it with such perseverance, meticulousness, and love for his craft.

UNEXPECTED TURNING POINT

Mr. Ngo Hoang Sang, born in 1981, is from the former Ben Tre province (now part of Vinh Long province). About 20 years ago, he moved to My Tho to learn watch repair and established his business there.

Mr. Ngo Hoang Sang stands beside the clay products he created himself.

The job of repairing watches requires precision, patience, and skillful hands—factors that might seem unrelated, but later became crucial foundations that brought him closer to the art of clay sculpting.

Clay has long been a familiar material to sculptors and painters due to its malleability, ease of shaping, and rich creative possibilities. However, mastering this material and creating products of true artistic value is not easy at all.

The clay models are transformed into miniature banana trees and bunches that look incredibly lifelike.

However, with passion and a self-taught spirit, Sang, who had never received formal art training, proved that with a love of art, one can absolutely start from scratch.

Sang said that he first learned about the art of clay sculpting around 2023.

Initially, it was just a way to make small decorative items as gifts for family and friends in his free time. “At that time, I happened to see some tutorial videos online, and I was curious to learn how to make them. I bought clay and started practicing, learning as I went,” Sang recalled.

As a relatively new hobby in My Tho, Sang had to figure out almost every step himself, from mixing colors and shaping to handling the smallest details.

Completing his first projects was incredibly difficult, sometimes making him feel discouraged and want to give up. According to Sang, the most challenging part of making clay miniature landscapes is mixing the colors and shaping them.

"The clay was originally white, so I had to mix it to get the exact colors that exist in real life. The sculpting was also difficult because everything was done by hand."

"The stroking and shaping movements must be very gentle and graceful; even a little too much force will ruin the shape of the banana leaf or fruit," Sang shared.

In particular, with small details like bananas the size of a pea, shaping them requires absolute skill. Overcoming the challenging early days, Sang's products have become increasingly refined and sophisticated.

Receiving praise from family, friends, and viewers motivated him to continue creating and expanding his product range.

"BREATHING LIFE" INTO CLAY

The main material Sang uses is self-drying clay from Thailand, a popular choice for handicrafts. This type of clay has the advantages of drying quickly (about 3-4 hours), being soft, pliable, easy to shape, and especially safe because it is made from wheat flour, posing no harm, even to children.

Many people choose to buy them as gifts or decorations because of their durability (avoid water and direct sunlight), non-toxicity, and high aesthetic value.

"Thai clay comes in a variety of colors and is inexpensive, so when finished, the selling price of the products is suitable for many customer segments," Sang said.

To create a finished product, Sang has to go through many stages: brainstorming, preparing and mixing the materials; sculpting and shaping each detail; assembling the parts; and finally, coloring and adjusting the small details.

Each step requires intense concentration, skillful hands, and keen observation. Although he has made hundreds of products in various categories such as bonsai, flowers, and foliage, Sang's strength remains in miniature banana tree and banana bunch landscapes – images familiar and beloved in the Southern Vietnamese countryside.

With small details like a banana the size of a pea, the shaping process is challenging.
It demands absolute skill.

The time required to complete each product ranges from 10 to 20 hours, depending on size and complexity. A miniature landscape may include a banana tree, a bunch of bananas, or a combination of multiple trees and bunches, requiring patience and meticulous attention to detail.

Currently, Sang's clay products are popular with many customers, from the elderly to the young. Admiring the products with delight, Mr. Vo Van Thao remarked: "I came here by chance to buy real bananas from Sang's wife."

I was surprised to see such beautiful and unique handcrafted products. In my opinion, these are unique items with high aesthetic value and require meticulous craftsmanship.

I bought one to display and show off to people around me. I plan to order another handcrafted mango tree this Tet holiday to create a "banana and mango" duo to display in my house for a complete set.

Many people choose to buy them as gifts or decorations because of their durability (avoid water and direct sunlight), non-toxicity, and high aesthetic value.

Depending on size and design, each product sells for between 400,000 and 1,500,000 VND. According to Sang, making clay crafts is "not exactly difficult, but not exactly easy either," the most important thing is passion and perseverance.

Sang plans to create more types of ornamental plants associated with the countryside in the near future, such as coconut trees, bamboo groves, and rows of betel nut trees…

Clay miniature landscapes are considered an art form that requires meticulousness, skill, and finesse.

Through the skillful hands of Ngo Hoang Sang, seemingly useless pieces of clay have been "given life," transforming into vibrant, detailed banana trees and bunches that are indistinguishable from real trees and fruit – a testament to the power of passion and the boundless creativity of those who love their craft.

MORNING

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/nguoi-thoi-hon-vao-nghe-thuat-nan-dat-set-a235309.html