Mastering one skill: A person obsessed with taking photos.

A person who likes to challenge themselves.

For about the last 5 years, it has become rare to see artisan and record holder Le Nguyen Vy (real name Le Duc Vy) going back and forth on the alley on Ngo Quyen Street where his family lives.

Artist Le Nguyen Vy stands beside his leaf-shaped artwork depicting the musical genius Beethoven.

At 75 years old, his feet still refuse to rest, wandering along the roads in search of materials and inspiration for his photographic work. He chose to stay in Bao Loc ( Lam Dong ) to focus on creating and developing photographs using his preferred materials. When I called him, he said amidst the sound of the waves: "I'm searching for ideas for my photographic works. After being at Phan Thiet beach (Binh Thuan), I'll go to Da Lat (Lam Dong)."

Going back in time to 2007, the Vietnam Book of Records Center recognized Le Nguyen Vy as the first person in Vietnam to create petrified photographs by successfully "projecting" color onto stone slabs, producing incredibly vivid and clear images. These seemingly lifeless stone slabs, in various colors, sizes, and textures, became the material for "developing photos," much like ordinary paper. While paper can become stained or smudged over time, with the technique of "projecting" color onto stone, each photograph can last for a century. "For almost 20 years now, no one has complained about the fading colors of my first petrified photographs," he said with a smile.

Unique color images are "projected" onto the inside of the clam shell.

Describing himself as someone who "likes to challenge himself," Mr. Vy has successfully explored and "projected" images onto various materials "related to stone" such as eggshells, seashells, snail shells, etc., or materials close to everyday life such as coconut shells and bamboo roots. Artist Le Nguyen Vy continues to conquer delicate materials like leaves (processed to leave only the veins), which he calls "leaf photography." Having succeeded with dried leaves, he then devised a way to "project" images onto fresh leaves as well. While stone photography brought him fame due to his unique printing technology, leaf photography marks the widespread application of this unique technology in daily life.

The image of musician Trịnh Công Sơn was "projected" onto black stone by artisan Lê Nguyên Vỹ.

"Stone is heavier than leaves. Leaf art, with images printed on the leaf veins and pressed between two glass surfaces, is both lightweight and aesthetically pleasing, making it popular and frequently ordered for easy portability," Mr. Vy said. In 2013, he launched his first leaf art piece. In 2017, Da Nang City organized a competition to design and produce souvenirs and gifts for the APEC High-Level Week, and he won third prize with his work depicting a brown-footed langur printed on the veins of a Bodhi leaf. In November 2018, artisan Le Nguyen Vy made a strong impression by successfully creating a leaf art piece featuring the family of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind. This unique leaf art piece, assembled from many Bodhi leaves taken from Linh Ung Pagoda, became a meaningful gift for the head of state of the country where Buddhism originated.

INITIATING A SOLO EXHIBITION

A talented artist who loves poetry, photography, and painting, Le Nguyen Vy also "understands a little about optics, chemistry, and electromechanics." Therefore, once he found the "secret technique" for projecting images onto stone, no material could pose a challenge to him. "No matter the material, whether it's flat or uneven, I can project the image and still get a clear picture. The process is 8 parts manual, with only 2 parts involving technology. As for the colors, I import them from abroad with a guarantee of 120 years of colorfastness, but I also add color-fixing agents, so the lifespan of the product will be even longer," he shared.

Nguyen Trai's work, "Binh Ngo Dai Cao," was printed on Bodhi leaves.

Seeking a unique path and achieving commercial success, but with an artistic temperament, Mr. Vy says he remains poor because all his money goes into his creative pursuits. He decided to rent a house in Bao Loc to find inspiration, needing a quiet space and proximity to volcanic black stone – the best material for stone photography. He frequently goes on road trips, sometimes riding his motorbike 400-500 km a day through various provinces and cities to find inspiration. Wherever he goes, he captures many images of the people and land there.

"I've created many images on various materials, but that's just the beginning. Up until now, I've only been an apprentice, not a true artist. The beauty in stone or leaf art is merely superficial and lacks the profound meaning of a true art form. With more creative time, by the end of 2025, I will hold solo exhibitions in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City showcasing my work on projecting images onto different materials. The theme will be ' The Surroundings and Friends ,' simply celebrating life," Mr. Vy said, adding, "After the exhibition, if I have time, I will hold a poetry and music night featuring my own compositions and write a book about my journey and experiences."

Concerns about passing on skills.

"This is a profession based on hobby and passion, and it has to be a deep passion. None of my children followed in my footsteps because they saw how hard their father worked. Moreover, as I said, besides basic knowledge of optics, electricity, chemistry, mechanics, etc., it requires additional knowledge of social sciences and humanities, as well as knowledge of painting and photography... Doing the job is easy, but to create something truly great, cultivating the craft is very difficult," artisan Le Nguyen Vy confided.

Throughout the conversation, artisan Le Nguyen Vy always had a smile on his face. He is still healthy, optimistic, and full of life, unafraid of difficulties, hardships, or being alone; his only fear is not having enough time. This is the fear of an artisan, an artist with many aspirations to conquer new things… (to be continued)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhat-nghe-tinh-nguoi-me-phong-anh-185241222225428515.htm