The driftwood craft here has a unique development history, from the arduous forest expeditions of previous generations to becoming a renowned craft village, creating jobs for many local workers.
In front of the house of Mr. Vuong Dinh Ninh (born in 1977), many diverse driftwood products are displayed, each bearing a unique mark of nature. Mr. Ninh is one of the first people to bring the driftwood craft to the village, starting with simple items such as tables, chairs, cups, and saucers.
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The art driftwood exhibition area of Mr. Vuong Dinh Ninh. |
The driftwood's beauty is graceful, like clouds; some areas are porous like honeycomb, while others are dense, forming cavities. Hardwood, such as ironwood, grows on rugged mountains, and teak, having endured years of erosion, possesses unique features that cannot be replicated by human hands.
Driftwood is the sturdy core of wood, twisted into unique shapes and grain patterns. Recognizing this hidden beauty, Mr. Ninh taught himself to carve and shape these lifeless pieces of wood into unique spiritual and auspicious works of art.
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| The exquisite finished product retains the natural lines and shapes created by nature. |
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| These are two of the many certificates of merit awarded to Mr. Vuong Dinh Ninh. |
Mr. Ninh actively opened workshops, taught his craft, and brought his products to many places across the country, receiving numerous prestigious awards. In particular, he and many others in the village have joined hands to build their own brand using agarwood. "Agarwood has a very unique scent. It's not as strong as sandalwood, nor as pungent as teak, but a scent unlike any other," Mr. Ninh shared.
Not far from there, at the home of Mr. Doan Xuan Thanh (born in 1976) – Head of the driftwood craft village, a wide variety of products are also on display to meet diverse tastes. Customers can find everything from everyday household items like tea trays, tables and chairs, to statues for spiritual and feng shui purposes.
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| A wide variety of products made from driftwood. |
According to Mr. Thanh, the crafting process now has the support of machinery in the cleaning and shaping stages, but the core value still lies in the craftsman's mindset. "The most difficult part of this profession is the initial shaping. When faced with a rough, unpolished piece of wood, the craftsman must be able to observe and imagine a shape that suits the wood's form before beginning to carve," Mr. Thanh shared.
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| The wood blanks are repurposed for crafting. |
For him, the most important thing in creating a good piece of driftwood art is the balance between human skill and nature. To preserve its natural beauty, people usually limit machine intervention, keeping the grain patterns and the original form of the wood intact.
Having started his career in 2003, Mr. Tran Xuan Tu (born in 1961) is currently one of the most skilled craftsmen in the village. His workshop provides employment and income for many local workers.
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| The artisan begins the crafting process from the very first steps. |
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| Mr. Tran Xuan Tu, owner of a fine art woodworking workshop in Doan Ket hamlet. |
After more than 20 years in the profession, Mr. Tu concluded that the biggest challenge for a craftsman is preserving as much of the natural roughness as possible. A skilled craftsman is one who knows how to follow the existing shape of the driftwood rather than interfering too much with tools. "In the world of fine wood carving, the more a product retains its original form and natural features, the higher its economic value," Mr. Tu affirmed.
The biggest difference between driftwood from Doan Ket hamlet and other regions lies in the absolute respect for uniqueness. Each piece tells its own story; there will never be a second one like it. A complete driftwood set can take several months for the craftsman to listen to and understand the wood.
Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/nhung-nguoi-thoi-hon-vao-go-lua-xom-doan-ket-1042720
